Emily Siggins touches down in commercial jet on her home runway
Bermudian pilot Emily Siggins was at the helm when JetBlue flight B6 203 from Boston landed at the airport on Saturday.
It was a dream fulfilling moment for her and a first for the island.
She was welcomed with a water curtain by the airport fire service and greeted in person by her proud parents, Jeannie and Herbie Siggins, alongside family, friends, and Bermuda Airport Authority CEO Lester Nelson.
According to a Skyport press release, Emily’s passion for aviation began in her youth during Saturday morning aviation classes at the airport with Bermudian pilot and instructor Pete Wilson. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Airport Management and a Master’s degree in Aviation Safety from the Florida Institute of Technology, along with commercial pilot and flight instructor certifications.
In 2016, Emily joined Cape Air as a Cessna 402 captain before joining JetBlue Airways as a First Officer six years later. Now based in Orlando, she flies throughout the United States, as well as between Mexico and the Caribbean.
At 33, Ms Siggins is proud to be breaking ground in what has been viewed as a traditionally male-dominated industry. She noted that while some passengers still comment “not bad for a girl” or assume she is a flight attendant, the overall response to having a female pilot, she says, has been largely positive.
