Ontario, Canada – Zoey Williams is making history and breaking barriers in the world of aviation as the first Black woman to pilot a Boeing 777 for Air Canada. This milestone follows her previous achievement of being the first Black female pilot to join the airline, according to Black News.
Williams, a Caribbean Canadian, celebrated this groundbreaking moment alongside her father, Orrett Williams, who also serves as a Boeing 777 Captain at Air Canada. Her journey to this point was not without its challenges. Despite growing up around aviation and living near a flight-training school, Williams was initially afraid of flying.
In an interview with Wings Magazine, she recounted her first flight lesson in a Cessna, which left her feeling nauseous and frightened. “After some encouragement from my father, we drove to the airport and I got into a Cessna for an introductory flight lesson. My introductory flight was during a day with some turbulence. I was uncomfortable and there was nothing to hold onto in the airplane. Being so high up made my knees shake and I felt sick to my stomach. Once the engine stopped and we were back on the ground, I thought to myself, ‘There is no way I am going back up there. You can forget about becoming a pilot!’”
However, fate had different plans. Last year, Williams proudly announced her new role as a First Officer on the Boeing 777 with Air Canada. “I am delighted to announce that I have joined Air Canada as a First Officer on the Boeing 777. This is a dream come true and I look forward to traveling the world on this beautiful aircraft. Here’s to a long career of new places, adventures, and memories,” she wrote on her LinkedIn page.
Williams’s accomplishments have also earned her a spot among the Top 20 Under 40 by Wings Magazine. When she’s not soaring through the skies, Williams expresses her creativity through music. She is a member of the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) since November 2023 and is also working on a children’s book about flying, aiming to inspire young people to pursue their dreams.
Zoey Williams continues to break the glass ceiling, inspiring future generations with her trailblazing achievements in aviation and beyond.
