An all African-American airline crew made history when two Black women piloted an Alaska Airlines flight from San Francisco to Portland on May 13, reports Travel and Leisure.
“You’re sharing a pretty interesting piece of Alaska Airlines’ history this morning,” said Capt. Tara Wright as she got the cabin full of passengers ready to take the historic flight with her and First Officer Mallory Cave. Someone took a video of the announcement and posted it on social media.
I spent flight time & shared a hanger with Bob Hoover (Google him) I guarantee he & I would be proud to have a back seat on your flight Tara Wright.
He & I could not be more proud.
See you flying on the other side Bob. pic.twitter.com/xmocaBky4g
— John Bick (@JohnBick4) May 19, 2018
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Wright had many reasons to celebrate that momentous day since it was both Mother’s Day and her dad’s 80th birthday.
Buzzfeed News reported that Wright was also the first ever African-American woman pilot for US Airways. Also, in 2017 she broke barriers when she became the airline’s first African-American woman pilot to be promoted to captain, just the seventh to do it at a major airline.
“Female pilots, and especially female African American pilots, make up a tiny minority at commercial airlines,” a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said in a statement. “Attracting and hiring people who reflect the diversity of our guests supports Alaska’s 2018 goal of winning together with our people.”
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Wright and Cave realize the importance of their notable achievements.
“I thought about my family and I thought about all the young African-American women who would watch the video and be inspired to do something that few others have done — to join us in a career that can be the most fulfilling and satisfying,” Wright told Buzzfeed News.
“It is possible and that you can accomplish your dreams,” Cave added.
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