What Happened
First US Transportation Secretary To Fly In Electric Vertical Takeoff Aircraft
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy became the first US Transportation Secretary to fly in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, aboard Beta Technologies’ Alia eVTOL. The flight, which took place on May 29, 2026, at Beta’s headquarters in Burlington, Vermont, highlights the growing interest in eVTOL technology and its potential to transform transportation. Beta is developing both electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft and eVTOLs, as well as charging infrastructure to support electric aircraft operations. The flight comes as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) move ahead with the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, according to AeroTime.