Captain Theresa M. Claiborne, a pioneering aviator, has concluded her 43-year career in aviation. Initially serving as a second lieutenant and the first Black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force, she later transitioned to the role of captain at United Airlines.
After seven years in the Air Force and 13 years in the Air Force Reserves, Claiborne joined United Airlines in January 1990. Her retirement was marked by her final landing on Thursday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, concluding her 34-year tenure with the airline.
Throughout her career, Claiborne has logged over 23,000 flight hours.
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“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 for the occasion. “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.”
“It’s been a pleasure to be your Captain and an absolute honor to fly the friendly skies,” her post concluded.
At the time of her retirement, she was one of 25 Black female pilots at United Airlines, according to her website. Data from United’s 2023 U.S. demographic report indicates that 15.1% of their frontline employees are Black or African American.
“Congratulations to Captain Claiborne on a remarkable career. Her legacy and impact are an inspiration to so many current and future aviators. United is a better airline thanks to her decades of service and leadership and we wish her nothing but the best in retirement,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.
Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that 93.7% of professional pilots in the U.S. are white, with 92.5% being male.
Speaking to agencies in 2022, Claiborne attributed the lack of pilots of color to the high flight costs and generational and economic disadvantages.
Becoming a commercial pilot requires an average total cost of nearly $100,000 in the training and licensing required by the FAA.
“That’s a lot of money. And financial institutions are not jumping at the bit to loan that kind of money to an aviation student,” Claiborne said. “We don’t have these long generations of pilots in the family.”
he Sisters of the Skies Foundation, co-founded by Claiborne in 2016, found that there are fewer than 200 Black women pilots in the U.S., and aims to address this issue by providing scholarships and mentorship opportunities.
“I guess maybe I did make an impact, and that’s important,” Claiborne told agencies. “When you put your heart and soul into something and it turns out that people appreciated it and people listened and got something out of it, it makes it all the better.”
Agencies: ABC News, New York’s WABC TV
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