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A mother and daughter pair of pilots have made Aer Lingus history after sharing the flight deck on a service to Frankfurt. The pairing — Captain Sonya Bissett and First Officer Lara Danaher — was highlighted by the airline and drew wide attention online.
A family milestone in the cockpit
Sonya Bissett served as Captain with her daughter Lara as Co‑Pilot on flight EI650/651, according to a post Sonya made on LinkedIn. Lara earned her wings in January, in a ceremony where her mother presented them to her.
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Lara marked the occasion on TikTok, posting photos and short clips documenting the day. In the caption she wrote: “It was an honour to get to fly with my mom as Captain and First Officer for the first time, a moment I’ve always dreamed of.” The clip quickly attracted hundreds of reactions.
Airline and public response
Aer Lingus posted a photograph of the two pilots with cabin crew and described the event as “a rare and special occurrence this week…Captain and Co‑Pilot = Mother and Daughter.” The airline added that it was “the first time in Aer Lingus history” and offered its congratulations to Sonya and Lara.
Passengers on the service said they applauded after an announcement that the mother and daughter were in control together, and social media responses ranged from admiration to praise for the visibility it gives women in aviation.
Personal reactions
Sonya thanked colleagues for their support on LinkedIn, writing: “What an absolute honour to have my daughter Lara Danaher as my First Officer today on EI650/651.” She added: “‘A huge thank you to the crew who made it so special for us. A day I will treasure.’”
Public figures and commentators also weighed in. Dr Norah Patten called the achievement “fantastic,” while broadcaster Maïa Dunphy described it as “very cool.” Other commenters celebrated the moment as inspiring for women pursuing careers in aviation.
The story stands out partly because it combines a personal milestone with an operational first for the airline, and it has resonated across social platforms as a rare, human moment in commercial aviation.
