Meet Alex and Alan, the first set of identical twins working as pilots at Alaska Airlines, which was recently ranked the best airline in the U.S. by WalletHub, according to a 2024 Forbes article.
Alex has been working as a first officer based at Los Angeles International Airport, while Alan joined the airline as a first officer stationed in San Francisco.
Born in Kenya, the twins moved with their family to California when they were just 13 years old. Their fascination with planes began at the tender age of three, spurred by their frequent interactions with aircraft during their parents’ travels. This early interest was nurtured by their mother, who gifted them a Microsoft Flight Simulator program.
“After I started playing with the program, that was it. I knew I wanted to do that [fly] for a job,” Alan said in an interview with the airline.
Following his completion of flight simulator training and a stint with a regional airline, Alan joined Alaska Airlines, where he was warmly welcomed.
Also, read; US, Russia Vying to Build Ghana’s Nuclear Energy Plant
“When I was working as a fueler, Alaska employees – whether it was pilots or people working across the operation – were always the nicest people who reached out to encourage me,” Alan recalled.
Despite the complexity of airline operations, which typically prevent family members from flying together, the brothers are determined to make their shared dream a reality.
“We’ve never flown together professionally because we’ve always been on different aircraft. The goal is to have one of us upgrade to captain and be operating the same aircraft so we can fly together,” Alex explained.
To show their gratitude to their mother, the twins plan to fly her on their first joint flight once they achieve their goal of flying together professionally.
Their journey from Kenya to the cockpit of Alaska Airlines is a testament to their determination and passion for aviation, making them a unique and inspiring pair in the airline industry.
