BDx13
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Surprising bright spot in an otherwise horrible, horrible story
http://www.elliott.org/blog/southwest-airlines-pilot-holds-p...
Southwest Airlines pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family
It’s easy to be an airline industry critic in an era of “no waivers, no favors” and fees on top of fees. It’s easy to paint airlines as heartless
corporations that treat us like self-loading cargo.
But every now and then, you hear a story that turns you into an adoring fan. Like Nancy’s story.
Before I continue, I should mention a few things: Nancy is a faithful reader of this site, and I agreed to use only her first name because of the
brutal nature of the crime and the age of the victim. Second, I’m not an emotional, John Boehner-type, but I can’t read her story without getting a
little teary.
So you’ve been warned: Grab a tissue.
Last night, my husband and I got the tragic news that our three-year-old grandson in Denver had been murdered by our daughter’s live-in boyfriend.
He is being taken off life support tonight at 9 o’clock and his parents have opted for organ donation, which will take place immediately. Over 25
people will receive his gift tonight and many lives will be saved.
This morning, after only a couple hours sleep, my husband and I began to make all arrangements to get him to Denver to be with our daughter. He is
currently on business in LA and is flying Southwest.
While his employer, Northrop Grumman, made arrangements to get his ticket changed so he could get to Tucson today (which he had to do in order to not
spend any extra money) I called Southwest to arrange his flight from Tucson to Denver so he would be stepping off one plane and getting on another.
He has several free flights with them so I couldn’t really do it on the website. The ticketing agent was holding back tears throughout the call. I’m
actually her step-mother and it’s much more important for my husband to be there than for me to be there.
In LAX, the lines to both check a bag and get through security were exceptional. He got to the airport two hours early and was still late getting to
his plane.
Every step of the way, he’s on the verge of tears and trying to get assistance from both TSA and Southwest employees to get to his plane on time.
According to him, everyone he talked to couldn’t have cared less. When he was done with security, he grabbed his computer bag, shoes and belt and ran
to his terminal in his stocking feet.
When he got there, the pilot of his plane and the ticketing agent both said, “Are you Mark? We held the plane for you and we’re so sorry about the
loss of your grandson.”
The pilot held the plane that was supposed to take off at 11:50 until 12:02 when my husband got there.
As my husband walked down the Jetway with the pilot, he said, “I can’t thank you enough for this.”
The pilot responded with, “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.”
My husband was able to take his first deep breath of the day.
I don’t know any other airline that would have done this.
I’m speechless. Twelve minutes many not sound like a lot to you or me, but every second counts when you’re an airline. Southwest can turn an entire
plane around in about 20 minutes, so 12 minutes is half an eternity.
I shared Nancy’s story with Southwest, and a representative said the airline was “proud” of the way the pilot had held the flight. Again, most
airlines would punish an employee who holds up the line for any reason.
My Monday post is normally called, “Can this trip be saved?” But today I’m sharing a trip that was saved amid tragic circumstances by a compassionate
pilot and an airline that supported his decision to hold a flight.
Good work, Southwest!
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
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BDx13
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in related news, this cunt can burn in hell:
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/01/07/toddler-dies-in-aurora...
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
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BDx13
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^just noticed that my last post was #168,000. cool.
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
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Discipline
* DRUNKEN MONKEY *
Posts: 11900
Registered: 9-8-2004
Location: Over here
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Mood: The Alley Dukes
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That pilot deserves a bonus on his next check. I hope the motherfucker that did it gets gang-raped daily in prison.
‘Do you know what a love letter is? It’s a bullet from a fucking gun. Straight through your heart.’
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Colin
Posting Freak
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Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Austin, TX
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that is horrible. Hate to judge people by appearences, but from looking at this asshole's mugshot, why on earth would he be allowed around her child?
He looks to be covered in meth scabs. It's not my place to judge the mother, but I've seen firsthand my whole life since my parents managed the
trailer park we lived in when I was a little kid, women who only date fucked up abusive violent felons who beat them & their kids, & I will never
really understand it
record collectors are pretentious assholes
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random
Posting Freak
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Registered: 7-30-2006
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that is fucking awesome (given the tragic circumstances). and i'm glad this got some press, because that pilot would get shitcanned otherwise for
holding up the flight.
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clevohardcore
* Kick\'n ass on the wild side *
Posts: 12937
Registered: 9-19-2004
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Mood: Sick Of It All, Youth Of Today
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That mother is just as responsible as that piece of shit. THis is the first I heard of this but I am confident that bitch is responsible as well. That
poor child and many others just like it desired and will desire so much better. So sad.
Thanks BD for the post and to think it is so common that no one is reporting this all over the news. Fucking sad state of affairs we are in.
Each aspect of the soul has it's own part to play, but the ideal is harmonious agreement with reason and control.
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morgan
Posting Freak
Posts: 1815
Registered: 7-21-2006
Location: Seguin, TX
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Mood: neighbors fighting
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Horrible to hear what happened but its nice knowing that there are still decent people out there.
Support the arts, shoot a rapper.
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