On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet. It began with one selfish act of theft. It ended with a random act of kindness
SCOTT SIMMIE
STAFF REPORTER, Toronto Star

Would you guys chip in?? I don't think I would...it's company money.

Air Canada Flight 792, from Toronto to Los Angeles, brought out the worst in someone Wednesday night.

And the best in others.

Soon after the jet reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants came around with drinks. As usual, it was $4 U.S. or $5 Canadian for a drink with alcohol. What was unusual, however, was that the money the flight attendant had been collecting in two small change purses had disappeared. Vanished, while she was temporarily away from the cart.

No one else on board knew what had happened, except the person who apparently had stolen them. But something seemed unusual when the flight attendants passed down the aisle, briefly opening every overhead bin and peering inside.

Then the public address system came on and the employee who had been dispensing drinks, and is personally responsible for that money, came on and said words pretty close to this: "The small purses containing the receipts from the in-flight service have gone missing. If passengers would please take a look around their seats, I'd really appreciate it. I'm a single mother and I'm responsible for that money."

People stopped watching the movie and started scouring the floor. Former prime minister Kim Campbell, seated in executive class, checked around. Another first-classer, who looked an awful lot like Kids in the Hall's Kevin McDonald (it might not have been him — it was dark), scanned the floor.

No stray purses. No money.

As the flight progressed, passengers kept asking the flight attendant if anything had turned up. Nothing had. She was going to be out $200 — or more.

Then a couple, who had been happily nuzzling in row 16, had an idea. They told the flight attendant they wanted to collect a few bucks from each passenger so the money wouldn't come out of her own pocket.

"Please, don't," she said, on the verge of tears. "That's so nice of you, but I just couldn't — you shouldn't — "

They did.

"Hey, people," they shouted through the craft. "The flight attendant hasn't found that money and we'd like to take up a collection. If you can contribute anything, it would be great."

And then, like a miracle at 35,000 feet, the money started to float in. Some sent fivers, but there were twenties, too. Even a $50 bill came forward (or back — it appeared to come from the executive class section). For the record, it seemed from a distance that Kim Campbell had also chipped in.

The nice folks in row 16 handed the woman a thick wad of bills. The flight attendant was in tears. "If there's anything extra, just give it to your favourite charity," they said.

As the flaps extended and the jet slowed for its approach to Pearson, the flight attendant picked up the mike. Someone in row 17 picked up a pen.

"I'm a bit close to tears at this point," she said, her voice breaking. "I cannot express my gratitude for your kindness. I wish I could send each and every one of you a simple thank-you. It's an amazing thing to see so much spirit among so many of you. I'm totally overwhelmed by the whole thing," she said, pausing to catch her voice.

"My best wishes to all of you, always."

And then Air Canada 792 — just another flight from Los Angeles to Toronto — lined up with the runway.