Pilot Returns to Gate When Mourning Family Misses Flight to Funeral
Joe Cortez December 31, 2015
Delta Air Lines pilot made the decision to return to the gate after seeing the family out of his window, allowing them to attend a funeral.
A Delta Air Lines pilot is being hailed as one family’s hero, after turning his aircraft back to the gate to allow the group to board the aircraft. Phoenix Fox affiliate KSAZ-TV reports the return allowed the family to make a connection that would ultimately allow them to say goodbye to a loved one for the last time.
The Short family was traveling from Phoenix to Memphis to attend the funeral of Rick Short’s father. However, their travels had not gone smoothly. After a 90-minute delay from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), the family was left with only ten minutes to make their connecting flight. By the time they arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), they were too late: the jet bridge had retracted, and the aircraft began taxiing for take-off.
“The lady got on the phone and said there was nothing they could do, that the tower wasn’t going to let them pull back in,” Rick Short told KSAZ-TV. “My sisters and mom [were] sitting there in tears and I’m screaming through the glass…all of a sudden, another phone call.”
While the Short family did everything they could to get the attention of the captain, the gate agents informed the pilots about the situation. The captain told KSAZ after seeing their visible grief, he decided to return to the gate and allow the family to board.
“I was just crying,” Nicole Wibel, who was flying with the family, told the television station. “I couldn’t believe we were going to miss that flight and we are very, very thankful for those pilots.”
A Delta employee told KSAZ the decision was made solely by the pilot. As a result of the act of kindness, the family was able to arrive in Memphis in time for the funeral.
[Photo: Delta]
You’re Reading
You see, this is what happens when you feed the trolls. @celsius1939 is a textbook troll. He says things that are absurd and heartless with the hope of getting a rise out of people When they reply, he makes asinine comments about how "[he's] glad [he is] not your employer. You wouldn’t last." Again, clearly a troll. Don't feed him.
@celsius1939: "Discrimination is always bad." Really? I guess the times one chooses to avoid a dodgy neighbourhood is bad then? Or keep your daughter away from the boy with the "I like it raw" tattoo on his neck? Or not taking a stroll alone in the city after dark? How about avoiding that pasta that's been in the fridge for possibly one day too many? How about choosing to provide for one's own children over someone else's? Also discrimination. Choosing the doctor with the glowing reputation for saving lives over the quack with a questionable record? Discrimination again. Discrimination is the act of distinguishing between two things and then treating them differently based on that observation. It can be good or it can be bad. It is undeniable that it is one of the fundamental things that keeps people alive (not saying that this scenario is life or death). To say that discrimination is always bad just silly.
@celsius1939: "This is really bad, because he chose his own idea of a proper reason to delay the flight." That's correct. It's called Captain's prerogative. You seem to be the only one (amongst the airlines and operators, media, FlyerTalk members and lack of condemnation from other passengers) who feel he used it inappropriately. Ever get the feeling you're the only soldier on the parade ground who's in step with the band?
@AKABrownBear I think you are probably one of those who doesn't plan anything very well. Just because you have not had delay problems does not mean they do not happen. It takes little or no brains or time to get on the web and reserve the flights that will most likely get you to an important place. You depend upon what airlines suggest? A little more thinking and a little less emotion will help you. I am glad I am not your employer. You wouldn't last.
celsius1939, maybe you have been lucky enough to never have experienced this, but when a family member dies you don't have oodles of time to plan out the perfect trip out to attend their funeral. Usually the funeral is held very soon after death and family members have to book last second flights to make it. I remember having to do this when my grandfather passed years ago. So maybe tone it down a bit on the high and mighty commentary about how this family brought almost missing the flight on themselves? I also think your statement is ridiculous in general as airlines themselves don't recommend that long of a layover for domestic flights (I fly every week for work and my layovers are always 40-60 minutes and I've missed one total connection out of dozens of flights). I suppose if you're a worry wart, 2-3 hours makes sense to calm your fears, but for everyone else it is overkill and a waste of time a lot of us can't afford. Anyways good on this pilot for caring about this family in a terrible time for them.