{
  "id": 18835699,
  "title": "They Can Barely Drive, but They’re Flying Planes: The Surprising Rise of Teen Pilots",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/they-can-barely-drive-but-theyre-flying-planes-the-surprising-rise-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T01:10:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times - World News",
    "slug": "hindustan-times-world-news",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/they-can-barely-drive-but-they-re-flying-planes-the-surprising-rise-of-teen-pilots-101794070745647.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [
    "Parker Allen, 21, has 1,800+ hours of flying experience as flight instructor.",
    "Nathalia Filgueiras co-piloted Learjet moments before fatal crash at 20.",
    "FAA reports 22% rise in teen commercial pilots from 2024 to 2025."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The surge in teenage commercial certification signals an industry-wide effort to bridge labor gaps by integrating specialized aviation training directly into the high school curriculum.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}