Acts of Kindness
Pilot calls out elderly woman on plane making her cry when he leaves cockpit to come to her seat
Her flight took a turn when the pilot got on the intercom and called her out.
Laura Shallcross
09.22.20

Weโ€™ve all been on a plane when the pilot announces a โ€œspecial passengerโ€ on board, but itโ€™s usually always the case that the pilotโ€™s either referring to someone celebrating a birthday or a frequent flyer member.

But on a United Airlines flight in January this year, when the pilot mentioned that there was a special passenger on board the plane, he truly meant it.

Michelle Aโ€™s mom had been a Capital Airlines flight attendant 60 years ago. She quit her job before the airline merged with United Airlines, putting her whole focus into raising her three children.

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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A

Now grown-up, Michelle wanted to give her mom a special surprise on their flight this year.

Michelle recorded the moment that the pilot made his announcement and asked, โ€œIf you were a Capital Airlines stewardess, would you mind raising your hand?โ€

YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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In the video, Michelleโ€™s mom can be seen looking over at her in surprise, then saying, โ€œOh my God,โ€ and raising her hand.

YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A

Everyone claps around her as the pilot continues to praise Michelleโ€™s mom for being โ€œthe greatest mom everโ€. Mom, bless her, tosses her hand, like, โ€œgreatest mom ever, me? Come off it.โ€

YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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But the announcement hasnโ€™t finished there. The camera angles down the aisle, and the captain himself is walking down it.

YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A

Michelleโ€™s mom gets a little emotional, putting her hand over her face and telling her family that she thinks she might cry. And then everything slots together โ€“ the pilot is Michelleโ€™s older brother, and had followed in the footsteps of his mom, becoming a United Airlines pilot!

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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A

He walks right up to his mom and leans down to give her a big hug, saying, โ€œLove youโ€.

His mom responds, โ€œYou had the greatest dad ever,โ€ then adds to those sitting in the seats beside her, โ€œHis father was a pilot.โ€ Flying definitely runs in the family, then!

YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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It seems Michelleโ€™s mom had no idea that her son would be piloting this flight, and what a happy surprise for her this must have been. Stumbling into a family member while onboard a plane must feel like a very unusual coincidence โ€“ though this had clearly been deliberately orchestrated in advance.

YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A

After less than a year on YouTube, Michelleโ€™s video has proved so special that it has been watched by over 27 million people. People who commented only had nice things to say about Michelleโ€™s momโ€™s surprise, with one person writing:

โ€œYou know lifeโ€™s too short not say how you feel about your parents. I have the upmost respect for this Captain/son to do this for your Mom. I lost my mom way too soon to cancer so this means everything to me. I have the upmost respect for the captain to do what he did.โ€
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A
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YouTube โ€“ Michelle A

Someone else actually knew the captain personally, and shared:

โ€œI LOVE HIM!!!!! HE is my favorite Captain on Unitedโ€ฆ extremely professional and kind to passengers. When I started out as a flight attendant, he was patient unlike other pilots lol. His mom must be incredibly proud for raising a fine gentleman!! Beautiful video and heartwarming. Thank you for sharing. We need more Captains like him!!! โค๐Ÿค—โ€

You can watch the heartwarming moment that this mom realizes her son is flying the plane in the video below.

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