Pioneering Black female pilot makes her final flight before retirement

(CNN) - One last flight on Thursday marked the end of the career of a trailblazer in modern aviation.

United Airlines Capt. Theresa Claiborne landed her final flight at Newark Airport in New Jersey. She flew a Boeing 787 with her friends and family on board from Lisbon, Portugal.

Claiborne became the first Black woman to fly with the U.S. Air Force back in 1982. In 1990, she joined United, where she later became a captain.

Claiborne became the first Black woman to fly with the United States Air Force back in 1982.... — Claiborne became the first Black woman to fly with the United States Air Force back in 1982. In 1990, she joined United Airlines, where she later became a captain.(Source: United Airlines via CNN)

During her career, Claiborne accumulated more than 20,000 flight hours, according to her website.

Even as she retires after about 43 years of flying planes, Claiborne told CNN she hopes she can “still make an impact on the industry.”

“To still impart that knowledge on young people – and particularly young Black women – that they can do this,” she said.

Claiborne landed her final flight at Newark Airport in New Jersey. She flew a Boeing 787 with... — Claiborne landed her final flight at Newark Airport in New Jersey. She flew a Boeing 787 with her friends and family on board from Lisbon, Portugal.(Source: United Airlines via CNN)

Black women are severely underrepresented in aviation. There are fewer than 150 of them flying for commercial airlines. Claiborne is one of the founding members of nonprofit Sisters of the Skies, which aims to increase the number of Black women who are professional pilots.

In the United States, 93.7% of professional pilots are white, and 92.5% are men.