The American Airlines crew operated the flight from Dallas to Phoenix to mark the centenary of Coleman's first public flight. Flying the plane were Captaiin Beth Powell and First Officer Charlene Shortte. The flight attendants were Vanessa Bennett, Cheryl Gaymon, Breana James, and Mary Roberson. Sharron Brooks and Nicole White were the ramp crew chiefs. The fleet service agents were Alisha Bates, Maya Matthews, and Natasha Williams. Patricia Milfort was the manager on duty for customer operations. The customer service agent and coordinator were Tracy Brown and Arlene Law, respectively. Handling the customer service at the coordinator level were Lillie Hayes, Arlene Law, Lynette Daniels Moody, Muje Abdul-Qadir, and Kacy Stevenson. Representing premium guest services were Jessika Mejia and Veronda Butler (senior manager). Pamela Catton was the aviation maintenance technician. Crystal Tochi McDaniel was cargo services duty chief, and the cargo crew chiefs were Sandra Butler and Audrey Van Hook.

A passenger on the plane that day was Gigi Coleman Brooms, Bessie's great-niece. She runs the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars, a program that encourages students to study math, science, engineering, and aeronautics.

Bessie Coleman was one of few female pilots in the first quarter of the 20th Century. She learned to fly in France and, in 1921 was the first woman of African-American and Native American descent to earn her pilot's license. (Her father, George, had Cherokee grandparents.)

Coleman returned to the U.S. and made a name for herself flying in air shows across the country. She took part in her first airshow in Garden City, N.Y., in September 1922 and then embarked on a series of shows elsewhere. She performed daring stunts in the air, some of which men refused to attempt. A broken leg and three ribs sustained in a crash in 1923 didn't stop her.

She was personable and fearless and became well-known across the country. People called her Brave Bessie, Dapper Bess, and Queen Bess. She counted as friends many well-known Americans, including actors Paul Robeson and Josephine Baker (whom Coleman inspired to get her own flying license in the 1930s).

Coleman also made it known that she would not fly in any airshows that did not admit African-Americans. She worked tirelessly to advance the ideas of gender and racial equality. She once said, "The air is the only place free from prejudices."