Meet the retired United captain who flew nearly every Boeing jet and broke barriers as the USAF's first Black woman pilot

A viral TikTok video about retired United captain and USAF veteran Theresa Claiborne comes amid a time when diversity is being threatened in aviation.

Courtesy of Retired United Captain Theresa Claiborne

• Theresa Claiborne recently went viral on TikTok for her career in the USAF and at United Airlines.
• The moment comes as efforts to diversify aviation with more women and people of color face threats.
• Captain Claiborne flew aerial refuelers before piloting Boeing planes at United from 1990 to 2024.