Black Female Pilots Make Alaska Airlines History

On Mother's Day, two pilots made history for Alaska Airlines by becoming the first black female piloting duo on one of the carrier’s flights.

Prior to the takeoff of Flight 361 from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon, the two women, Captain Tara Wright and First Officer Mallory Cave, stepped out of the flight deck of the Boeing 737 to introduce themselves to the passengers.

“Finally, you're sharing a pretty interesting piece of Alaska Airlines history this morning,” Wright told passengers, KTVA reported. “You'll be piloted by two female African-American pilots for the first time in the airline's history.”

Her announcement led everyone on board to break out in applause. Alaska Airlines posted a video of the event on its Facebook page.

"You're making (history) this morning whether you're awake or not," Wright added.

Adding impact to the flight’s importance, Federal Aviation Administration data compiled in 2017 indicates a mere 14 percent of all active U.S. airmen certificates are held by women. This includes everyone with student, private and commercial licenses.

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