Most mothers and daughters have their share of highs and lows. This mother/daughter team is flying high!
Keely Petitt’s dream was to become a pilot just like her mom, Captain Holly Petitt.
That dream just came true for both of these special ladies.
According to a statement released by Southwest Airlines, Holly began as a flight attendant right out of college and she discovered her passion for flying. She eventually got certified and finished flight lessons all while being a full-time mom.
Keely knew what she wanted to do at the tender age of 14, she wanted to fly like her mom. She earned her pilot’s license and landed an internship with Southwest in 2017.
Working for Southwest has always been the goal for Keely, she did not know that on July 23, she would be asked to co-pilot Flight 3658 with none other than her mom, Holly.
The mother/daughter duo flew together from their hometown of Denver, Colorado to St. Louis, Missouri. This was a first for them and the airline.
“They’re breaking barriers and empowering women of all ages to pursue their dreams in aviation, and pun intended, reach for the skies,” Southwest wrote.
Captain Holly said that having her daughter by her side in the big blue yonder as a first officer was a “dream come true.”
“First, I found this career and fell in love with it, and then that one of my kids fell into this and in love with this career too. It’s surreal,” she said.
Holly also posted a message on her Facebook page sharing from her heart.
“The much anticipated maiden voyage as the first mother daughter team at Southwest Airlines has arrived! It’s been a very emotional morning for me. One moment you are holding this tiny little premature baby in your arms and in a blink of an eye she is sitting next to you on the flight deck of a Boeing 737 jet! I love you to the moon and back, Keely Petitt!” the captain wrote.
She also posted a great pic showing both Holly and Keely smiling in the cockpit and in matching uniforms.
