An Israel’s flag carrier airline El Al flight that flew from Israel to Larnaca, Cyprus under the low cost UP brand made history: Its cockpit was comprised entirely of women.
The controls were in the hands of Captain Smadar Shechter and First Officer Meirav Schwartz, who were booked on the flight together by total happenstance.
Schechter, 44, said upon her return that the all-woman flight had come about by accident rather than design: "I had to change my flight, and when I got to the airport, I saw that I was paired with Merav. We had suddenly found ourselves together before takeoff. Of course we were both very excited.”
The entire company was eager to mark the occasion, and colleagues rushed to congratulate the pair. El Al currently employs three female pilots, as well as a female cadet who is expected to finish her training course in the coming months.
