On one easyJet flight, the captain is 26 and the co-pilot 19

When Capt. Kate McWilliams and first officer Luke Elsworth piloted an easyJet flight from London to Malta from last week, the duo almost surely became one of the youngest cockpit crews at a large global airline.

McWilliams is 26 while Elsworth is just 19.

In fact, the British discounter says it believes McWilliams has become the world’s youngest current commercial airline captain after passing her coursework to earn the promotion. It's unclear if there are younger captains at other carriers -- notably at smaller regional airlines.

McWilliams says her love of aviation began as a young girl after her family took her to her first air show. She at one point hoped to join the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, but shifted her focus to commercial aviation.

“I joined the air cadets when I was 13 where I got plenty of flying experience,” McWilliams says in a statement issued via her employer. “At that point I didn’t imagine a career in commercial aviation as I didn’t know any commercial pilots who I could ask for advice. I never even thought it could be an option available to me.”

Today, McWiliams is based at easyJet’s base at London Gatwick. The carrier operates Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 narrowbody jets.

“I love being a commercial pilot for easyJet, and I am proud that I have now achieved my ambition of becoming a captain,” McWilliams adds.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, McWilliams acknowledges she gets questions about her age.

“Personally, I don’t think my age matters,” McWilliams tells the Press Association. “I’ve been through the same training and passed the same command course as every other captain, so I’ve proven myself capable regardless of my age. I do now get asked how old I am on an almost daily basis, which didn’t used to happen when I was a first officer.”

"Usually that question comes from the cabin crew but sometimes passengers ask too,” she adds in her comments to the British news agency. “When I tell them I'm 26, most people are pleasantly surprised and impressed with my achievement at such a young age.”

EasyJet touted McWilliams’ accomplishments on Monday while also issuing a call for more women to consider flying. The airline points out only 5% of commercial pilots in the industry are female and says it's trying increase the number of female pilots in its ranks. In its statement, easyJet says it “hopes … Kate’s success and fulfilment of her dream will inspire other women to consider a career as a pilot.”

Also echoing that sentiment is the the British Women Pilots' Association, where chairwoman Julie Westhorp says the group "congratulates Kate on gaining command at 26 years of age and hope that her achievement inspires more women to consider pursuing a career in aviation."

“Both the BWPA and easyJet are aware of the importance of visible role models for girls and young women when making career choices and continue to work together to encourage young women to consider a pilot career,” Westhorp adds. “Kate's achievement clearly demonstrates to other young women that it is possible to succeed as a pilot in commercial aviation.”

As for Elsworth, the 19-year-old co-pilot who flew the EasyJet flight to Malta last week, he’s also taking on an ambassador’s role for the profession.

“I really want to encourage more younger people to get into it,” he says to the Manchester Evening News. “If you’re good enough to be there, you’ve done the training and you’re suited towards it then I don’t think age really has an impact.”

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