The Indian Air Force (IAF) was the first Indian mission to reach the true North Pole and complete ‘ Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 2003 ‘ .
A 14-member team of the IAF, led by the pilot on on the mission – Group Captain S R K Nair on the IAF’s IL-76 reached the true North Pole on June 19th, 2003.
The aircraft reached over the true North Pole on June 19th, 2003 at 18:45 GMT (June 20, 00:15 IST).
This unique feat has not yet been repeated by any IAF Pilot or IAF team till date.
Notes:
Subsequently a Boeing 777 of Air India achieved the same feat.