Nationwide — African American twin brothers, Jamil and Jalal Paul, turned their childhood dream into reality by becoming pilots for United Airlines. From their first flight at age four to now inspiring young passengers, they continue to break barriers in aviation.

The identical twins grew up in New Jersey and first discovered their love for flying on a family trip from Newark to Miami. Today, they are based in Houston and fly side by side at 30,000 feet, a bond they always hoped to share.

“The goal was to always do life together in some form or fashion,” Jalal told Fox 26 Houston. “To be a flight crew four times over and have it impact others, we didn’t expect that either.”

Their success carries weight in an industry where representation remains rare. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than four percent of commercial pilots in the country are Black. That reality motivates the Paul brothers to be visible role models for the next generation of aviators.

Jamil says he often steps into the cabin to connect with passengers before takeoff. He shared, “I want [young passengers] to know what’s possible. They’ll hear my voice when we’re in the air and when we land, and when they see me, they can say, ‘That’s who was flying the plane.’”

The brothers recall wishing they had mentors who looked like them. Now, they take on that role themselves, hoping to make aviation dreams feel more attainable. “When someone who does tell you that you’ll be a great pilot, it’s more digestible,” Jalal said.

Earlier this summer, they surprised their father with a Father’s Day flight along the same Newark-to-Miami route that first inspired them. Expecting to meet his sons for lunch, he boarded the plane unaware they were in the cockpit. A video captured their emotional announcement from the flight deck, calling it an “absolute honor” to fly with their dad onboard.