The first black woman to fly in US Air Force Captain Theresa Claiborne. Captain Theresa has retired after a service spanning 43 years during which she flew both military and commercial aircraft.
The highly celebrated Captain landed her final flight on May 23 at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. She had traveled from Lisbon, Portugal, with her friends and family in tow. She served as a Captain for United Airlines.
“I’ve had a great career. And it’s time for me to park the brakes for the final time on a big airplane,” Captain Theresa Claiborne was quoted by the CNN. She expressed her fears and anticipation that awaits her in retirement to the media house saying that;
“After this, walking through the airport, I won’t have a uniform on. People will just look at me like I’m just a passenger like everyone else, that’ll be a little different…”
She went on:
“I’m hoping that I can still make an impact on the industry… To still impart that knowledge on young people, and particularly young black women, that they can do this.”
According to the CNN report, Captain Theresa who hails from the State of Virginia grew up with her father in the military, and later went on to follow in his footsteps.
In 1982, she made history as the first Black woman to fly in the United States Air Force at just the age of 22 years. She then became the first Black woman to serve as a command pilot and instructor for the KC-135, a mid-air refueling jet.
In 1990, she transitioned from being a military pilot to a commercial one, joining United Airlines. Despite only being five feet, two inches tall, two inches shorter than the height requirement for commercial aircraft pilots at other airlines, Claiborne went on to become a United Airlines captain.
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On her Instagram page, she shared her thoughts on her final flight:
“For one last time… This is your Captain speaking… As we descended into EWR on my final approach, memories of my entire 34-year career floated across the clouds like butterflies. I saw the smiles of millions of happy passengers, thousands of loving reunions, hundreds of safe landings, and the face of my favorite passenger I’ve ever flown with—the one who sacrificed so much for me to get to this moment—my Momma.”
Captain Theresa Claiborne went on:
“A close friend and retired pilot advised me to soak it all in and take things slow. Calm as Captains do, my heart began to swell as I saw the water cannon salute and held back what felt like water cannons behind my eyes. Then the wheels kissed the ground-a perfect landing.
Now everyone’s asking me, “What’s next?” And I tell them, “This is only just the beginning of what I believe is the best chapter of my life.”
I plan to spend my days inspiring young people to follow their dreams by turning them into goals, shattering glass ceilings, and defying all odds. I’ll be calling in my friends from all around the world to share their experiences to empower the next generation of trailblazers who are destined for greatness.
If they can see it, they can be it.
Today, I may be retired from flying airplanes at United Airlines, but in the words of one of the G.O.A.T.s (Greatest of All Time), Kobe Bryant, “Job’s not finished.”
It’s been a pleasure to be your Captain and an absolute honour to fly the skies.”