Dreams can manifest in various forms, and for Keely Petitt, it was the aspiration to become a pilot just like her mother, Captain Holly Petitt. That dream recently memorably came to fruition, as mother and daughter took to the skies together.
According to a statement from Southwest Airlines, Holly started her career as a flight attendant right after college, where she discovered her passion for aviation. Balancing her role as a full-time mom, Holly pursued her pilot certification and flight lessons while her children grew up amidst the challenges of aviation life.
By the age of 14, Keely had decided she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She earned her pilot’s license and secured an internship with Southwest Airlines in 2017.
Although working for Southwest was always Keely’s goal, she was surprised to find herself co-piloting Flight 3658 with her mom on July 23. The flight from their hometown of Denver, Colorado, to St. Louis, Missouri, marked a historic milestone for the airline.
Southwest Airlines noted, “They’re breaking barriers and inspiring women of all ages to pursue their aviation dreams, and pun intended, reach for the skies.”
For Captain Holly, having her daughter as the first officer was a “dream come true.” She expressed her emotions, saying, “I fell in love with this career first, and then one of my kids did as well. It’s surreal.”
Holly shared her heartfelt thoughts on Facebook, reflecting on the significance of the moment.
“The long-awaited first flight as Southwest Airlines’ first mother-daughter team has arrived! It’s been an emotional morning for me. One moment, I’m holding a tiny premature baby, and the next, she’s sitting next to me in the cockpit of a Boeing 737! I love you to the moon and back, Keely Petitt!” Holly posted, along with a photo of them smiling in their matching uniforms.
While Southwest’s mother-daughter pilot team is a first for the airline, it follows a similar milestone achieved by Captain Suzy Garrett and First Officer Donna Garrett of SkyWest Airlines in 2020.
This heartwarming moment highlights a growing trend of family connections in aviation. Alaska Airlines has also recently announced that identical twin brothers have completed flight simulation training and plan to fly together.
Congratulations to Keely and Holly for achieving their dreams and inspiring us all. It seems the sky is just the beginning.