Editor's Note: Reporter April Chavez flew aboard the inaugural SkyWest flight from Santa Maria Public Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Wednesday. The following story details her experience.

Skywest flight attendant TK Kyle, known to the crew as “Total Knockout Kyle,” grew up in Lompoc.

Kyle, now based in L.A., was working aboard the inaugural flight from the Santa Maria Public Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Wednesday as SMX launched its twice-daily flight option serving the Central Coast. SkyWest Airlines operates the flights on behalf of American Airlines under the American Eagle brand.

“One of the flight attendants told me I needed to pick up this flight because it was from my hometown,” said Kyle, who moved to Lompoc with her family in first grade and lived t

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