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More Female Pilots To Join Middle East Airlines Flight Crew

With a new frenzy taking over Lebanese social media every other day, we’re happy to report that the latest is an extremely positive one! An image of several female pilots introduced as the latest addition to the Middle East Airlines flight crew has us delighted!!



In the picture, you can spot Captain Rola Hteit, the first Lebanese female pilot in the Middle East Airlines for 18 years, until the company decided to welcome First Officer Erica Chbeir, their second female pilot also seen in the picture, in 2018.


The two ladies made history as the first female pilots to join Middle East Airlines, but soon enough they will be joined by more competent women, who are gradually but increasingly venturing into the aviation field in Lebanon.

According to an official source in the MEA, four new women are now joining the crew, one of which is already up and flying and three others currently in training.



Introducing the women:

First Officer Stephanie Kteily is the third female to join Hoteit and Chbeir as recruit to MEA’s pilot ranks.

Training First Officer Angela Mourad graduated from Flight Training Euope (FTE) in Jerez, Spain 8 months ago.

Cadet Stephanie El Helou and Cadet Yara Darwish are in Jerez at the moment to complete their FTE training period.

In an interview with the Daily Star in 2012, Hoteit shared that she still had to wear a man’s suit because according to management, hiring a designer for one female pilot was deemed not resourceful. With Erica on-boarding the team last year, and more women joining the crew today, we’re hoping they can finally get their fitted suits and the respect they’ve earned.