Weโve all been on a plane when the pilot announces a โspecial passengerโ on board, but itโs usually always the case that the pilotโs 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 Aโs 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.
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, โIf you were a Capital Airlines stewardess, would you mind raising your hand?โ
In the video, Michelleโs mom can be seen looking over at her in surprise, then saying, โOh my God,โ and raising her hand.
Everyone claps around her as the pilot continues to praise Michelleโs mom for being โthe greatest mom everโ. Mom, bless her, tosses her hand, like, โgreatest mom ever, me? Come off it.โ
But the announcement hasnโt finished there. The camera angles down the aisle, and the captain himself is walking down it.
Michelleโs 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 Michelleโs older brother, and had followed in the footsteps of his mom, becoming a United Airlines pilot!
He walks right up to his mom and leans down to give her a big hug, saying, โLove youโ.
His mom responds, โYou had the greatest dad ever,โ then adds to those sitting in the seats beside her, โHis father was a pilot.โ Flying definitely runs in the family, then!
It seems Michelleโs 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.
After less than a year on YouTube, Michelleโs 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 Michelleโs momโs surprise, with one person writing:
Someone else actually knew the captain personally, and shared:
โI LOVE HIM!!!!! HE is my favorite Captain on Unitedโฆ 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!!! โค๐คโ
You can watch the heartwarming moment that this mom realizes her son is flying the plane in the video below.
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