Two African American women made history Tuesday (May 22), as they piloted a flight for Alaska Airlines from San Francisco.
Captain Tara Wright was the captain and Mallory Cave was the first officer, reports Fox5 San Diego. Passengers were informed by Captain Wright herself, as she came out of the cockpit to go on the intercom and tell those on board of the commercial flight that they were becoming a part of history. She told the passengers that they were on the first Alaska Airlines flight being flown by two Black women. In addition to the momentous occasion, Wright shared that the day was also her father’s 80th birthday. Wright and her first officer received a round of applause from passengers as the two made their way back to the cockpit and the flight got underway. Fox 5 reports that according to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), in 2017 only 14 percent of pilot’s licenses were held by women.
