Meet the Inspiring Justin Mutawassim: Young Man Rises From Baggage Handler to Airline Pilot

• At only ten years, Justin Mutawaasim was privileged to get access to an aeroplane cockpit, where he got to look and explore how it worked
• There and then was bitten by the aviation bug, but his journey was not straightforward as he first became a broadcaster, then dumped it for the aviation industry
• He first started working as a ramp agent carrying bags before his mentor helped him come up with a path to becoming a pilot

Justin Mutawaasim is now a fully-fledged Delta Airlines pilot, a far cry from his previous job, handling baggage at the airport.

Mutawassim worked as a ramp agent

In 2016, Mutawassim worked as a ramp agent for Delta Air Lines, and, as fate would have it, he made friends with pilot Ivor Martin who helped him chart a path toward his position.

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Over a year, Ivor helped Justin draw a career plan so he could become a pilot too.

"He just provided so much guidance for me to get into the fold and the next thing you know things just took off for me," said Mutawaasim on NBC News.

"I had never seen a pilot who looked like me in the UK, I came across the Organisation of Aerospace Professionals and they guided me. I had mentors who guided me, so I said I will pass it on to the next professional," said Ivor.

Ivor helped Mutawaasim prepare for exams

In addition to preparing a career plan, Ivor helped Mutawaasim prepare for exams.

"Like clockwork, I helped Justice get the readings done and helped him study his items; he did that perfectly. For me, it was a pleasure seeing him go from a 19-year-old kid to airline pilot," said Ivor.

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In a previous story by the Washington Post, the pilot said that the first time he boarded an aeroplane, the pilots invited him to the cockpit to go and explore.

"I was just absolutely enamoured,” he said

“I remember sitting there and being fascinated by all the buttons,” said Mutawassim. “From there, I just caught the bug," he added.

As years passed, his love for aviation intensified, and he got a job as a ramp agent at 19 years old to achieve his dream of being a pilot.

It feels incredibly surreal.

“It feels incredibly surreal still,” said Mutawassim, 26, who is based in New York City and also worked as a broadcaster

In December 2014, about a year into his studies, Mutawassim decided to drop out of college, where he was getting a communications degree.

“I didn’t want to waste my time or my money on something I wasn’t truly invested in,” he said.

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From rump agent, he quickly went from agent to supervisor and, later, instructor.

“I just absolutely fell in love with the technical aspect of aviation," he said.

Justin first started flying for Regional Airlines before moving on to Delta Airlines, and his mentor was right there to see him get his wings.

"The biggest thing is be kind to one another and help each other out. If we are better to each other and our neigbours, we can all progress as people, " said Justin.

The man finally becomes pilot after 15 years

In March 2022, a youthful pilot who toiled for 15 years to get his dream job came out of the cockpit and shared his story with passengers before flying the plane to Lagos.

He disclosed he was happy to fly the plane for the first time heading to his homeland.

In Yoruba language, the pilot told the passengers that the flight would take more than 10 hours. He also transitioned to the Pidgin language, making everyone feel at home.

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The pilot encouraged passengers to believe in hard work and never abandon their dreams.

Source: TUKO.co.ke