CNN's Pete Muntean on Aviation, Loss, and Finding His Path | On Air S2E11

CNN's Pete Muntean on Aviation, Loss, and Finding His Path | On Air S2E11

Author: Women in Aviation International May 27, 2026 Duration: 51:00

Pete Muntean is a CNN correspondent based in Washington, D.C. A pilot and flight instructor, he covers aviation and transportation as well as general assignment stories for the network.Pete came to CNN in 2020 after a decade in local news. He was the transportation reporter for WUSA9 in Washington, D.C. where he detailed chronic safety problems on the Metro public transit system and led the station’s coverage of air disasters including the Boeing 737 Max and the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant.Prior, Pete covered the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for WGAL News 8. There, he covered two gubernatorial administrations, a months-long state government shutdown, and earned an Emmy nomination for exposing wasteful spending by state lawmakers. He reported on the Penn State child sex abuse scandal and the trial of Jerry Sandusky from start to finish.Pete draws on his knowledge from a lifetime in aviation. Taught by his late parents, he’s been flying airplanes since he was a teenager and now mentors new pilots and competes in aerobatic flying competitions. He holds a commercial license and is a Certificated Flight Instructor - Instrument.Pete began his broadcasting career as an intern at CNN Center in Atlanta, working under former CNN anchor and correspondent Miles O’Brien. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism.🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. 📲 Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast


There's a whole world above the clouds, and the voices shaping it are more diverse than ever. The WAI On Air Podcast, from Women in Aviation International, opens the hangar doors and the boardroom doors to the people making it happen. This isn't just about the roar of engines; it's about the conversations, the problem-solving, and the personal journeys that define modern flight. You'll hear directly from pilots navigating long-haul routes, engineers designing the next generation of aircraft, and air traffic controllers managing the complex ballet of the skies. The podcast also features insights from aerospace executives and the innovators pushing technology forward. Each episode is a candid look at the challenges and triumphs experienced by women, and their allies, across every specialty. Tune in for authentic stories that go beyond the resume, offering a genuine sense of the community and the passion that fuels this dynamic industry. Whether you're a seasoned aviation professional or simply fascinated by flight, this series connects you to the human element that keeps our world moving.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 27

WAI On Air Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Changing Course: Amy Tomlinson |OnAirS2E10 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:14
Meet Amy Tomlinson—the Blue Angels' first female weapons system officer— who leads drone delivery at Amazon Prime Air. Amy has over 25 years of leadership and management experience including a strong background in instru…
WAI Podcast S2 E3 - Stephanie Chung [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:19
Stephanie Chung is not just the #1 international best-selling author of ALLY Leadership, How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You: she's also a force of strategic innovation, a beacon of change, and a titan in the world o…
WAI Podcast S2 E2 - Joan Sullivan Garrett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
Meet Joan Sullivan Garrett, founder of MedAire and a pioneer in aviation telemedicine. Working as a critical-care flight nurse in the early 1980s, Joan was regularly called into high-stakes emergency evacuations in remot…
WAI Podcast S2 E1 - Stephanie Goetz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:45
Meet Stephanie Goetz, a businesswoman, leadership coach, philanthropist, professional pilot, TEDx speaker, and professional singer.Stephanie Goetz is a modern-day Renaissance woman. She is an award-winning former news an…