What’s the story: Captain Don Yu and First Officer Miyoko Matsushima became the first all-AAPI flight crew in UPS’s history to fly together. By chance, Miyoko was rescheduled from another flight to fly with Don, making it the first time they’ve flown together.
“I saw that Miyoko was scheduled to fly with me and my eyes lit up,” Don said. “Then I had that ‘unicorn moment,’ and realized just how rare and personal this occasion is.”
Meet Miyoko: As a young girl, Miyoko fell in love with aviation while watching a large aircraft take off and land at Tokyo’s Narita airport. Being a girl, she was told it would be impossible to be a pilot in her country. At 21, and barely able to speak English, she packed her bags and left home for a U.S. flight school.
Her words: “I was expecting people to tell me I couldn’t be a pilot when I arrived in the U.S. But instead, I found a supportive aviation family who wanted to work with me so that we could all be successful together.”
After simultaneously completing English classes and flight school, she was certified to fly. Hired in 2006, Miyoko Matsushima is now a UPS pilot and an American citizen.
Meet Don: Don’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Korea when he was 8 years old. He attended public schools and eventually entered the Air Force Academy. He served 30 years in the Air Force, including 15 in the reserves. As a civilian, he flew for almost two years with a passenger carrier until Sept. 11, when he chose to return to active duty to serve the country.
Don is an American citizen and was hired at UPS in 2006. He feels blessed and privileged for the opportunities he’s been given.
His words: “It speaks volumes for our country and its inclusive nature, that they would let an immigrant kid like me skirt the top of the earth in state-of-the-art aircraft.”