The first new character players will encounter in Halo Infinite is the pilot of the Pelican Echo-216. He brings the Master Chief aboard and restores his armor’s functionality, which sets the game in motion. He’ll be the player’s reluctant companion throughout the campaign, but who is the pilot of Echo-216, and what is his real name?
(Spoilers below)
What is the pilot’s name in Halo Infinite?
The pilot of Echo-216 is named Fernando Esparza. Given how often the game focuses on his struggle, fans might think that he’s someone important, but that’s not the case.
We don’t learn much about who the pilot is, except that he’s not even a Pelican pilot. Apparently, he stole the Pelican he’s flying during Atriox’s attack on the UNSC Infinity. Other than the fact he has a wife and daughter, we don’t know much about the pilot’s past. Though he stole Echo-216, we can assume that he’s not a criminal. He was familiar enough with the Pelican to pilot and repair it, so it’s likely he was a technician of some sort. Perhaps he was assigned to maintain the Pelicans and happened to be near one when the Banished attacked.
It’s possible that the pilot could have a hidden past, but it’s likely that he’s just a means for the player to relate to the story in Halo Infinite. He’s a non-augmented human without rank or glory and just wants to go home. He’s not particularly patriotic and mostly sticks around out of respect (and a bit of fear) for the Master Chief. However, his resolve does strengthen throughout the game, and he’s able to overcome his fear to do his duty.
Since Halo Infinite is a ten-year project for 343 Industries, we can expect to see more of the pilot as the Chief continues to unravel the secrets of Zeta Halo.
