First COVID-19 vaccine flight to US has Fayetteville connection

One of the pilots who flew the first COVID-19 vaccines from Brussels to the United States grew up in Fayetteville.

Posted 11:18 p.m. Dec 7, 2020 — Updated 11:28 p.m. Dec 7, 2020

Gilbert Baez

, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — One of the pilots who flew the first COVID-19 vaccines from Brussels to the United States is a Black pilot who grew up on Murchison Road in Fayetteville. Captain Glenwood Roane flies for United Airlines. He told his family he wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving for a very good reason.

Roane graduated from E.E. Smith High School in 1980. He was part of the color guard, golden singers and Air Force JROTC because he always wanted to fly.

United Airlines would not allow an official interview with Roane due to their contract with Pfizer. WRAL News was able to get in touch with the pilot’s sister, Karen Roane, who is an OBGYN in Raleigh.

“When my brother was little, he would look up at the sky and see airplanes flying. He’d always say, ‘I’m going to fly the plane,’” said Karen Roane. “He was very excited about being involved in this project because he knew it was going to be important to get the vaccine here.”

She also said that her brother is a humble man and while he knew the dangers of flying in a cockpit for eight hours with two other pilots, he was ready to take the risk.

Captain Roane stated that the flight was the “most incredible and important” flight in his 30-year career.

Currently, the FDA is evaluating the vaccine for both quality and effectiveness, and it has not yet been authorized for use in the United States. During the evaluation period, the vaccine is being distributed across the United States so that if it is approved it will be immediately ready to be given to the most vulnerable.

Suggest A Correction