Pilot Stops Plane for Family of Murdered Child

[FourScore]

Pilot Stops Plane for Family of Murdered Child

What's this? News from an airport that doesn't make you want to vomit blood in outrage? Finally. A man stuck in airport security gridlock could say goodbye to his dead grandson when his flight's pilot refused to depart without him.

The man, whose grandson had been murdered only days earlier, arrived two hours early for his domestic flight. Thanks to the complete indifference of the security staff he encountered, he was given no assistance as he struggled to make it through security in time for takeoff. Finally, having arrived at his gate in his bare feet, 12 minutes late, he was greeted with the following: "Are you Mark? We held the plane for you and we're so sorry about the loss of your grandson."

The pilot, informed of the family's loss, had delayed the flight by 12 minutes to allow the man to board. When the man's family thanked the pilot, he, in a line that I'm sure will be delivered in the film version by Jon Hamm, replied only: "They can't go anywhere without me and I wasn't going anywhere without you. Now relax. We'll get you there. And again, I'm so sorry."

It's not often you get to call an airline classy—or really anything other than completely awful, but way to be the exception Southwest.

http://gizmodo.com/5731946/pilot-stops-plane-for-family-of-murdered-son

[Sinistrous]

1. I figured it had to be Southwest, even before

I saw the article.

[DrDan]

5. there are good people as pilots in all airlines

[Sinistrous]

44. True. But many other airlines would fire them if they risked a late

departure for a humanitarian purpose.

My impression of the corporate culture of Southwest is that it is unique in giving a damn about its passengers.

[DrDan]

50. no doubt about that - but the pilots for the most part are good decent folks who would do the same

for that passenger

[Blue_Tires]

73. +1

[Kerrytravelers]

2. If I'd been on that flight, I would have given the pilot a hug when I deboarded at the flight's end.

What a decent human being. Makes me proud to be part of the human species sometimes.

[Little Star]

3. k&r for human decency.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Shout it from the rooftops.

I am so touched by this wonderful story...

I wish I could recommend it way more than once.

[DeschutesRiver]

71. It should be shouted out on the news, instead of endless loops of Palin's self pity.

I am so glad it was posted here - I hadn't seen a word about this on satellite news (I only get msnbc, but still...).

[Cetacea]

6. "It's A Miracle"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duO0jNUYOg8

[BlueIris]

7. NICE. And please, somebody write that screenplay.

John Hamm + I dunno, the guy who directed The Weatherman = Awesome. Bring it! NOW!!

[Iggo]

8. I like good guys. (n/t)

[malaise]

9. Bravo Southwest

Rec

[BrightKnight]

10. Good character and good business are not mutually exclusive.

Southwest can't buy publicity like that.

[Fumesucker]

11. K&R

[Brickbat]

12. I find it sad that we live in a world that this is a news story.

This is NOT a slam on the OP or the story itself. This should be just how people are -- not a huge amazing thing.

I take it back -- generally, this IS how people are. It's the greedy corporations and bizarre government security measures that try to squelch these kinds of impulses out of people. "Can't possibly be late pulling from the gate! It will reduce departure time accuracy by .012 percent and shareholders will WAAAAHHHH!" "Can't hustle a man up to get him on the plane, WHAT IF TERRORISTS ALL CAME TO GATES CLAIMING THEIR GRANDKIDS HAD BEEN MURDERED?"

[pezDispenser]

42. Corporations aren't greedy, the respond to stimulus

Reward southwest with positive stimulus and see how they respond. Corporations go where the money is, we have the money. We have the power - collectively.

[MedicalAdmin]

48. Actually corporations are greedy. They are required by law to be so.

The statute requires them to maximize shareholder value and profit every time.

Greed: it's the law.

[Statistical]

65. However shareholder value can be maximized by gaining marketshare.

AIG greed certainly didn't mazimize shareholder value did it.

Southwest is "greedy" they greedily acquire customers from other airlines and attempt to show those customers there is "another way". If enough of those customer becomes repeat customers SW shareholders win.

The sad thing is SW isn't even that great of a company it is just the fact that the competition is so pathetically bad.

[valerief]

75. +666 trillion. That's right! nt

[johnroshan]

49. Exactly!!

It has always depended on ordinary citizens to recognize and reward good business practices. Next time fly Southwest and don't forget to mention this incident as the reason why you chose them. Government Regulations aren't always the answer.

John.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. kicked

Good of him.

[seabeyond]

14. yea... i love it. i love nice. decent. thanks . nt

[32571]

15. To the pilot of this flight. I applaud you sir.

n/t

[FourScore]

18. Welcome to DU, 32571!

:hi:

[littlewolf]

16. K & R

Yet another reason Southwest is my airline of choice ....

[BuelahWitch]

39. Mine too!

I flew American and United a few months ago on a trip to chicago. Made me appreciate Southwest even more!

[AnneD]

40. OK....

They pack you in a bit tight, they give you peanuts, and some times they can be a bit odd.....but I would not fly any other airlines. I knew it had to be SW Airlines before I got to the end of the story. I have flown with them since their inception and it is always my first choice. I can assure you SW Airlines will not reprimand the pilot.

[foxfeet]

17. Bravo!

K&R

[progressoid]

19. Very Nice.

:cry:

[GentryDixon]

20. Some good news in the face of tragedy.

I always fly Southwest. They have always taken care of me and mine.

My warmest thoughts to the family.

[Politicub]

21. Kindness comes back a hundred fold

And it's clearly good for business.

[blondeatlast]

22. Womderful--that's simple human decency.

Let me reiterate that Southwest is alwasy my first choice, too.

[cate94]

23. K & R

[barbtries]

24. this made me cry

this call that's going out for treating each other better: tell it to the TSA!

[somone]

25. SWA has always been my first choice

Simply the best airline in the U.S.

[Dappleganger]

26. As a person who had to make that dreaded flight to a family member's death...

and was stuck in the airport for hours, what a great gesture by the pilot and the airline!

My story--my mother had her final stroke, the family who was there kept her on life support until I could get there and we could together pull her off. The plane was delayed and there were 30+ people in line in front of me who were being reassigned. I did something which I don't normally do, but shed a few tears and someone asked what was up. In my daze all I could say that my mother was dying and the family was waiting for me at the hospital to say our last goodbye. This sweet man promptly pulled me all the way to the front of the line and announced that I was next (he was just a passenger), and what was going on. Everyone around me stood back and said that I was next, and they were able to get me the next flight out. There aren't many things I remember too well that day but that was one of those oddly remarkable human moments in time. We all stand together as one in death.

[FourScore]

36. Thank you for sharing your story, Dappleganger.

That was beautiful.

:hug:

[rasputin1952]

56. Thank you for that beautiful story of human kindness...

It seems strange to me that I should feel a little shock at what human will do for another in times of duress, after all, this is how we should all act all of the time. Alleviating the pain and duress of others is simply the right thing to do; I am so glad to hear that true human beings walk like angels among us...:hug:

[deutsey]

61. That is a nice story. Thanks for sharing.

:hug:

[blueamy66]

63. thx for the story Dappleganger

My Dad worked for AA for 45+ years and when my Mom's Mom died, they took care of getting her back to Buffalo for the funeral...no charge...

Back in the day, airline personnel were "family". I still have many "Uncles" that weren't really uncles.

SW has been and will be my 1st choice when flying....sorry AA. :-)

[FailureToCommunicate]

27. Always have liked Southwest! Why oh why did it take 2+ hours to get

thru "security" ?!?

On a Southwest flight years ago when our twins were newborns we happened to have the same crew for our return flight (after visiting new grandparents) The flight out had been a bit of a struggle for us and on the return several of the flight attendants came to our seats and quietly slipped us a bottle of champagne from first class saying " you probably could use this" We will not soon forget that little gesture of common humanity. And the fine black linen cloth they wrapped it in we've used nearly every day since...
Did we mention they are a union airline?

[LisaL]

28. Having to perform "enhanced" pat downs is probably slowing

TSA down.

[TheMadMonk]

32. I hate to say it. It's hateful to say it. But unfortunately I suspect it's deliberate...

...in far to many cases.

We're already far to aware of the sort of dick that can make it into a TSA uniform. (No opinion on frequency, just an acknowledgement that some are there.)

And I'm certainly aware of individuals in my own life, who would think deliberately piling "grief" on top of grief, just because he can, to be enormously amusing.

I suspect most people can join the dots at this point. I will not accuse this gent's screener (or supervisor) of any specific wrongdoing, I can think of a couple of scenarios at least which would force them to act as they did. However, I think most of us can agree that there will be (and are) screeners who would deliberately make things twice as dificult for any travellers who ask for expidited treatment simple because they asked. An oportunity for vicarious additional cruelty would just make it all the sweeter for some.

[Mr. Sparkle]

29. Nice ! n/t

[Stumbler]

30. Yet another example

American citizens are caring, compassionate people. Our bosses, representatives and media, however, are not. If it were up to them this man would be denied access to his flight and charged unrelenting fees to make up for their 'inconvenience.'

:applause:

[nevergiveup]

31. "The Better Angels of Our Nature"

Thank you Mr. Pilot!

[rasputin1952]

57. You beat me to it...

:hug:

[Statistical]

33. I knew it was going to be Southwest. Strong union + common sense flight crews.

Southwest seems to give their crews a lot of leeway.

A oldie but goldie. A clever flight attendant. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVEeCZNjRYU

And who doesn't love toilet paper races.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjikovLphCI

[Renew Deal]

34. Southwest has been advertising that they support customers.

Maybe they mean it. :D

[blondeatlast]

35. Southwet Airlines founder Herb Kelleher's credo: The customer comes second.

Employees come first, plus they are empowered to make decisions like this--and SWA have the best gawddamned customer service of just about ANY business because of it.

[blueamy66]

64. My Dad introduced me to Mr. Kelleher

many years ago.

Great man.

[blondeatlast]

66. I met him once and know several longtime SWA employees; they all love him.

A lot of CEOS could learn from him; SWA still has not taken any government recovery money and still thrives.

[PBS Poll-435]

68. I wrote then President Colleen Barrett about an awesome experience I had on SWA

Flying from Dallas to Las Vegas. I told her how impressed I was from gate-to-gate.

She sent me a free flight ticket. In a world of nasty and idiotic decisions (charging to check a suitcase?), Southwest is and always will be my airline of choice. If they could only speed up the Wright Amendment phase-out.

[lonestarnot]

37. SW Rocks!

Wouldn't fly anything else.

[ZombieHorde]

38. Holy shit, an act of kindness! nt

[BrklynLiberal]

41. wow! just WOW!

[Gman]

43. Only Southwest would do that

I hate to fly anyone else.

[blondeatlast]

69. They empower their employees to make such decisions.

They have continued to operate in the black since before 9/11 without government aid. I think that says a lot.

[Gman]

72. Since like 1971 or so.

IIRC the only quarter they lost money was the 4th of 08 due to the economic crash and they were stuck and had to pay for fuel at much higher prices (due to their speculating) than the going price after the crash. But that speculation is why they had much cheaper prices than everyone else when oil was $100+ a barrel

[MilesColtrane]

45. Smells like Urban Myth to me.

Does it typically take two hours to go through security at LAX?

And, who was up on all the regional news that recognized grandpa's name on the manifest?

[petronius]

47. I've had some ridiculously long (IMO) waits at LAX, but I doubt if the worst

ever approached 2 hours from curb to gate. Lately it's been pretty quick for us, even in the holidays - we make a point of getting early flights, before the delays accumulate, and we're usually through it all in 30 minutes or less...

[av8rdave]

55. It doesn't always happen, but I have been informed in cases where there were bereaved passengers

aboard.

And no, I'm not with Southwest.

[deutsey]

62. The original source was apparently something called elliott.org

http://www.elliott.org/blog/southwest-airlines-pilot-holds-plane-for-murder-victims-family/

The blogger says it was from a reader and that he called Southwest to verify.

Is this a reputable site? I've never heard of it.

[Swamp Rat]

46. k&r

[Mojeoux]

51. K and R

[xor]

52. I hate to be the one to ruin the moment by being negative, but....

just kidding :P

cool story.

[Delphinus]

53. OMG!

What a beautiful thing to read - crying right now - tears of compassion and of joy. :cry:

Good still exists in the hearts of humanity.

[theaocp]

54. Fuckin' waaaaay cool. :) n/t

[myrna minx]

58. .

:cry:

[deutsey]

59. It's so rare that I read about something so decent and human

Thanks for posting.

[PatSeg]

60. K&R for an uplifting story!

[hamsterjill]

67. Way to go, Pilot!

This is an example of human kindness in action! Where one sympathetic individual acted without allowing corporate indifference to muddy the waters.

Way to go! And let's hope acts such as this are paid forward! We need more individuals like this pilot, who think, rather than just perform.

[DFW]

70. I have never flown Southwest

If they flew to western Europe, I think I'd be flying nothing else. They have a huge presence in Dallas,
but they don't fly from Dallas to Paris, Brussels or Germany, so I'm outta luck.

As for the TSA, well this says it all (I suspect not just for me, either): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LNxvG1qQM

[Divine Discontent]

74. absolutely love this!!! SWA for me, always.

[JNelson6563]

76. Awesome.

It's amazing really how many opportunities there are for people to become heroes throughout their daily lives. Bravo to this pilot for doing this! I'd wager that poor grandpa had the best shock of his life that day. Sad that it had to be in relation to something so terrible. Still, an act of humanity like this can brighten even the dreariest of days.

Julie

[Ishoutandscream2]

77. Southwest airlines. Started and based in Dallas, Texas

That's for all the Dallas and Texas haters out there.

[PBS Poll-435]

78. :-)

I have never been treated badly by a SWA employee. Corporate or Operational.

Plus, Operationally, they are like me! Young(either in spirit or in age)/Friendly/Super-Duper Kind.

[dd2003]

79. front page of yahoo now

I as well knew it would be a LUV employee before even finishing the article. No other airline compares imho. Glad to see a company that gain maxamize shareholder wealth as well as be good people