A full-circle flight: Delta pilot honors family’s roots with trip to Senegal

Capt. Malik Sinegal’s flight from JFK to Dakar, Senegal on Nov. 18 was more than just another trip across the Atlantic — it was a full-circle moment for him and his family as they returned to the country for the first time since their ancestors left in the late 1600s.

“This trip was personal for us,” he said. “My last name is Sinegal, which originally came from Senegal. Over time, through pronunciation and translation, it changed to Sinegal.”

What made the trip even more special was that it was Capt. Sinegal’s first time flying his family on a Delta flight — a dream he’s had since becoming a Delta pilot. One of those family members was his grandfather, who had no idea his grandson would be flying the plane. 

“I purchased his ticket and kept that detail from him,” Sinegal said. “I was raised by my grandmother and grandfather in Biloxi, Mississippi. My grandmother passed away in 2017, so it meant a great deal to me to be able to fly my grandfather for the first time on a Delta flight.”

Also on board was Capt. Sinegal’s father, who had only flown with him during his student pilot days; First Officers Azar Myles and Jason Voudrie, close friends and Delta colleagues who have supported him throughout his career; and his godmother and her mother, who both helped introduce him to aviation. 

For Capt. Sinegal, this trip was a celebration of heritage, family and the power of dreams.

“To return to Senegal as a Delta pilot, with the people who inspired and supported me, is something I’ll never forget.”