They Can Barely Drive, but They’re Flying Planes: The Surprising Rise of Teen Pilots
Nathalia Filgueiras, the 20-year-old co-pilot in a fatal Learjet crash, was part of a growing wave of young people getting an early start in aviation careers.
At 17 years old, Parker Allen was already training for his pilot's license while balancing band and swim-team practice. By 21, he had become a flight instructor with over 1,800 hours of flying experience and now aims for a job at a regional airline. Teenagers like Nathalia Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot, are part of a growing wave of young people starting their pilot careers early.
Filgueiras had her private pilot's license by 17 and was already co-piloting a Learjet just months before a crash that killed her and eight others. Despite her young age, aviation experts praise her control during the emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration reported a 22% increase in teens holding commercial flight certificates between 2024 and 2025, driven by the industry's push to attract young adults.
Over 34,000 students across more than 1,700 high schools are enrolled in aviation courses this year, with many programs having waitlists. Rancho High School in Las Vegas, for example, admits 60 students annually to its flight program. Most students enter the program in 11th grade, around 16 years old, and log hours in aircraft by their junior year.
Bob Allen, a former airline pilot, started flying as a 16-year-old and is now urging others to recognize the skills of young pilots like Filgueiras.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
