ALERT Editor's note: Comic artist Noelle Stevenson (@Gingerhazing) appears to be live tweeting from the United Airlines plane that is stuck at Los Angeles airport gate due to sick passenger. We've linked to her Twitter feed in this post. – Jillian

Melanie's aviation journey began at a young age, earning her first pilot certifications while still a teenager, before she ever held a driver’s license! As lead journalist at AIRLIVE.net, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the voice and editorial direction of the website. Her experience spans flight operations, air traffic coordination and emergency incident analysis.