Bengaluru, March 8 (IANS) On the International Women's Day, Bengaluru airport operator BIAL on Friday announced it has inducted 14 women firefighters into its aircraft rescue and firefighting squad.

"Recruited from across Karnataka, the women, who were inducted on February 19, are currently undergoing training at the Bengaluru airport," the Bangalore International Airport Ltd said in a statement.

BIAL also claimed that it has become the first airport in the country to have women firefighters in its crew and among the few Asian airports to have a female contingent of its size after these appointments.

The appointment of a women firefighting squad marks transformation in the Indian aviation sector, which has traditionally been male-dominated, BIAL said.

"With the airport's second runway and second terminal set to become operational in 2019 and 2021 respectively, the recruitment of women will strengthen the airport's emergency preparedness," the statement said.

--IANS bha/rs/prs