Pioneering aviator Captain Theresa M. Claiborne has retired after 43 years of flying, first as a second lieutenant and the first Black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and then as a captain at United Airlines.
Claiborne was hired by United in January 1990 after seven years of active duty with the Air Force and 13 years in the Air Force Reserves. Her final landing for United Thursday at Newark, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport marked her retirement after 34 years with the air carrier.
Claiborne has logged more than 23,000 career flight hours.
In this screen grab from a video, United Airlines pilot Theresa Claiborne is shown at her retirement party.
WABC
“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,” Claiborne wrote, in part, in an Instagram post marking the occasion. “I’ll be calling in my friends from all around the world to share their experiences to empower the…
