By Aabigayle McIntosh

Antiguan-born American Airline Captain Brian Chase is still receiving high commendation days after he piloted his first flight back to his native country as a Captain.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas stated,” I share in the congratulations of him to be able to command that level of senority.an Antiguan who has achieved notoriety or quota of standing in their field of endeavors in the international market.”

Chase first attracted the attention of the entire nation back in June 2020, when he flew as First Officer on the first commercial American Airlines flight that landed at the V.C Bird International Airport after the lockdown.

Four years later, and with numerous flights logged, he returned to the land of his birth as the first Antiguan to captain an American Airlines Boeing 737 to land in Antigua and Barbuda receiving yet another Hero’s welcome.

Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lionel Hurst said Chase’s 6-year experience at LIAT 1974 shows the company’s evolution.

“LIAT was a part of his experiences as a pilot and there was a time when we had to fight them because they didn’t accept black pilots and black managers, we had to fight them. Captain Chase had an opportunity to work at LIAT and therefore was able to do bigger and better things,” Hurst said.

On his return to the island on March 4th, Chase dedicated the flight to his late mother who he said would have loved it.

He also acknowledged his father .