Wyckoff's Mike Bowers Ends 43-Year Aviation Career: Report

Capt. Mike Bowers has flown his last flight for United Airlines.

Bowers, 64 of Wyckoff, flew his final flight Wednesday after a 43-year aviation career. He is United’s chief pilot at Newark Liberty International Airport, NorthJersey.com reported and is retiring next month.

Dozens of his co-workers and fellow pilots were there to greet and congratulate him when he walked off the plane in Terminal C. Bowers has flown passengers in and out of Newark for 32 years. He flew F-14 Tomcats for the U.S. Navy. He supervises United’s 2,700 pilots at Newark, aviationpros.com reported.

“I thought you were all out here waiting to board a flight, not to see me,” Bowers said over a loudspeaker.

Bowers’ colleagues also spoke highly of him.

“He’s a great guy and he was always there for all the pilots,” pilot Dan Glickson told the website.

Bowers also wrote the “Ask the Pilot” column in Hemispheres, United’s in-flight magazine.

In his most recent column, Bowers answered a reader’s question about flight delays.

(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)