<p>Former top Indian airlines official Captain TA Kunjipalu, more popularly known as the pilot who taught Rajiv Gandhi to fly and later cleared him as a pilot, passed away near Kochi on Wednesday, according to family sources.</p>.<p>After retiring from Indian Airlines in 1989, the 94-year-old Kunjipalu settled down near Kochi at Aluva.</p>.<p>Kunjipalu was Rajiv Gandhi's instructor who later appeared as his examiner and cleared him as a full-fledged pilot.</p>.<p>Interestingly, later, when Gandhi went to ink the agreement with Sri Lanka, it was Kunjipalu who piloted the aircraft to Colombo.</p>.<p>The last rites would be held at his local parish near here on Thursday.</p>
<p>Former top Indian airlines official Captain TA Kunjipalu, more popularly known as the pilot who taught Rajiv Gandhi to fly and later cleared him as a pilot, passed away near Kochi on Wednesday, according to family sources.</p>.<p>After retiring from Indian Airlines in 1989, the 94-year-old Kunjipalu settled down near Kochi at Aluva.</p>.<p>Kunjipalu was Rajiv Gandhi's instructor who later appeared as his examiner and cleared him as a full-fledged pilot.</p>.<p>Interestingly, later, when Gandhi went to ink the agreement with Sri Lanka, it was Kunjipalu who piloted the aircraft to Colombo.</p>.<p>The last rites would be held at his local parish near here on Thursday.</p>