Grounded

About Emma Henderson

Until September 2020 Emma was one of fewer than five hundred female airline captains in the world. Then as covid swept the globe and grounded Emma and her colleagues she founded a charity of which she is now CEO and had to choose to allow the sun to set on a flying career that spanned three decades. Already well-known in the airline industry in 2019 Emma starred in an ITV documentary Inside the Cockpit and overnight became known as 'Captain Emma'. She was nominated easyJet Captain of the Year in 2018. The challenges Emma faced throughout her career have taught her more than most about leadership resilience perseverance and grace and she has used these skills to great effect at Project Wingman which has gained national acclaim uniting the airline industry in providing well-being support to those in aviation and to NHS frontline staff across the UK and briefly the US. In January 2021 Emma was made MBE for her services to charity. Emma's story is one of triumph over adversity determination finding the good in everyone and inspiring and empowering her team of six thousand volunteers and always with a generous heart. She now uses her years of knowledge and experience gained from life at 37000 feet to inspire the next generation of aviators. Key achievements are reflected in all she has done widely celebrated across the industry for these being recognised as businesswoman of the year in 2020 she also received a Points of Light award the ACA Chairmans Industry Recognition Award she was awarded the Brabazon Cup in 2021 as well as being made MBE.