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Here's How Two African American Women Pilots Made History Together At Delta Airlines

Here's How Two African American Women Pilots Made History Together At Delta Airlines

 


Pictured left to right: Captain Stephanie Johnson and First Officer Dawn Cook

Looks like Delta Airlines' first Black female captain, Stephanie Johnson had more history to make. But this time, she didn't do it alone. On February 26, Captain Johnson and First Officer Dawn Cook operated one of Delta's mainline flights and became its first all-Black women cockpit crew. 

The historic flight was planned by Cook, who reached out to Johnson after learning that she would be flying from Detroit. Cook and Johnson soared the skies on an Airbus 320, flying from Detroit to Las Vegas just a few days before Black History Month ended. See photos of their historic flight below, shared by Cook's brother-in-law, Justin Fairfax.  

Johnson, who, in 1997, also became the first Black female pilot at Northwest Airlines, said: When (I) was hired by Northwest Airlines, there were 12 African-American women airline pilots in the country at the major airlines..." 

"Today is very different, and though there are still people to inform, I am so thankful that the word is out. This is a great career—it’s worth the hard work."

Indeed! Congratulations, ladies! Thank you both for being an inspiration to future Black women aviators.