In 2019, Miracle Izuchukwu achieved a significant milestone after becoming the youngest licensed Black female commercial pilot in the United States.
Raised in New York, she noted the challenges of growing up in an environment that did not encourage young girls to pursue ambitious careers.
“I remember watching lots of TED Talks to give myself more insights on possible careers that might interest me… to no avail,” she said.
Miracle’s introduction to the aviation industry began when she joined American Airlines as a flight attendant.
Her ambition to become a pilot was sparked while working as a customer service representative when she encountered an airline pilot.
“The pilot opened my eyes to the possibility of becoming a pilot, and a few weeks later, I went on a discovery flight that sealed it for me,” she stated.
Despite her excitement about this career path, Miracle faced discouragement from her father when she shared her aspirations.
“If he gets on a plane and sees a woman as the pilot, he would get off the plane,” she recalled.
Rather than deterring her, this motivated her to push forward, and in 2021, she achieved her Private Pilot’s License through dedication and hard work.
“Whoever it is praying for me, don’t stop, it’s working. I joined the elite group of 7% of female and 1% of Black female pilots in the world. It’s an exhilarating, yet surreal feeling to introduce myself to the world as a Pilot,” she announced on Instagram.
Miracle continued her training and recently earned her stripes as a licensed commercial pilot, proudly sharing her accomplishment as one of the youngest pilots in the United States.
Looking ahead, she aspires to travel the world and provide support for young girls in Africa; her ultimate goal is to inspire these young girls by showing them what is possible.
“By seeing me in my pilot uniform, I want them to know they too can become pilots,” she said.
