How a Pilot Surprised Her Sister on Their Very First Flight Together (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Grace Lanker and Rachel Earnhardt pose in an airplane cockpit.Photo:Grace Lanker

Grace Lanker

This sibling bond is pretty fly.

Grace Lanker buckled up for an exciting ride aboard her United flight to Hawaii — not just because she was headed to a dreamy destination out of Denver, but because her sister was the pilot on her flight!

Grace Lanker and Rachel Earnhardt take a selfie in airplane seats.Grace Lanker

“First officer Rachel speaking. This is an extra-special flight today because we’re flying with one of the best captains that United has to offer, Rick Dubois,” Earnhardt began over the intercom in the video.

“And we have my bestie gal on board, my sister Grace, she’s sitting in 41D!” she continued, to immediate cheers from the passengers on board. “So, uh, just give her a pat on the back and tell her how cool it must be to have a sister like me. Thanks so much!”

Lanker spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about the moment, explaining that “it was actually my first flight with my sister.” Earnhardt has had her private pilot license since she was around age 17; now at 28, she’s a first officer.

Rachel Earnhardt poses in an airplane cockpit.Grace Lanker

“It is crazy that it took so long for me to get on one of her flights,” Lanker says in disbelief, though cites the COVID-19 as a large reason why scheduling hasn’t been easy to align. “It just hasn’t really worked out.”

“Everybody cheered and everybody around me was like, ‘No way. That’s your sister!’ " Lanker recalls of the passengers' reactions to her sister’s announcement. “So everybody was so excited. It was super cool to experience — and then all the flight attendants were super excited about it too, which was fun.”

Grace Lanker and Rachel Earnhardt hang out in Hawaii after their first flight together.Grace Lanker

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Lanker says she “did know” that her sister would be making an announcement — though she “didn’t know exactly what she would say.” She adds, “I was just very proud to be on one of her flights and be one of her passengers because she’s so cool.”

As for whether Lanker was nervous to be in the hands of her sister as pilot for the first time in her entire life? Not at all, given that several of Lanker’s family members are pilots, including her husband and another sister.

Lanker, who foundedAltitude Collection, a business that sells custom-designed aviation apparel, says she was “just excited” and filled with “pride” on that Hawaii-bound flight.

“I’m so proud of her and she’s so cool. She’s such a badass.” Lanker adds, “I look up to her so much.”

source: people.com