She was the first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force. Now this trailblazing pilot is getting ready for her final flight

She was the first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force. Now this trailblazing pilot is getting ready for her final flight

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — She’s been flying planes, both military and commercial, for about 43 years, breaking down barrier after barrier along the way. But on May 23, Captain Theresa Claiborne will land her “final flight” at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after traveling from Lisbon, Portugal, with her friends and family in tow. “I’ve had a great career,” Claiborne told CNN Travel via Zoom shortly before setting…

She was the first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force. Now this trailblazing pilot is getting ready for her final flight

Captain Theresa Claiborne flew military jets before becoming a commercial pilot for United Airlines. Now after 43 years, she’s hanging up her pilot’s wings.