He is confident, relaxed, and all smiles. Pilot Eric Gaffney, who was born with a limb difference, not only cuts a handsome figure but is truly made for the job.
The 34-year-old first officer at United Airlines, who flies the Boeing 737, is missing a hand—but he is not short on determination and resilience. He firmly believes people are born to win, provided they are ready to face their life challenges head-on.
Gaffney’s story is an uplifting tale of strength, persistence, and hard work.
Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, he now lives in The Woodlands, Texas, with his wife, Natalie, and two children: a 6-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. When Gaffney found himself grounded during the pandemic, he wrote a book for children, titled “Airick Flies High,” aimed at showing how difference need not be a barrier….