Piloting with Compassion

A compassionate airline pilot.

Piloting with Compassion

“What’s the worst thing that can happen?”  A little girl asked her mother while waiting to board their flight.

Her mother was sitting in her chair sideways.  Her left arm was curled along the top of the chair, so it could cushion her drooping head.

“I don’t feel well.”  Her mother replied.  “I don’t know that I am well enough to fly.”

Upon hearing her mother’s pained words, the little girl redirected her question to her grandmother.  “What’s the worst thing that can happen?”

“There’s nothing to worry about.” The girl’s grandmother responded gently.  “It’s a lot safer to fly than to ride in a car.  We’ll have such fun in Montana!”

“We’re going to begin boarding by row.” The gate agent announced just seconds later.

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to go.”  The small girl’s mother said immediately after hearing the general announcement.  “I think I’m going to vomit!”

Shortly thereafter, the grandmother, grandfather and the worried girl began to gather their carry-on bags because their seat range had been announced.  The fearful mother stirred, picked up here bag and walked across the hall to vacant seats at another gate.  “I can’t get on that plane!” She said as her daughter followed, floating in the wake of her mother’s fear.

After hugging their two loved-ones goodbye, the hesitant grandparents boarded the plane, while the distraught pair still sat across the hall.

“This is the final boarding call.  If you have a ticket you must board now, before the door shuts.”  The gate agent announced, looking directly at the woman and her daughter, just before a pilot appeared at that same, almost closing jet bridge door.

The pilot had the grandmother at his side.  When he walked through the door, she was directed to wait just inside, because she had already boarded.  He walked directly to the girl and her mother across the way, where he stopped and began to converse in kindly tones.

“We’d love to have you join us on the plane.”  He implored.  “I don’t want you to miss your celebration in Montana.  I promise I’ll be able to get you there safely.  Come with me and I’ll show you the cockpit.”

They talked for a few minutes more.  He coaxed and empathized with patience, until he helped them gather their belongings and escorted them onto the plane.  Once on the plane, he showed them the cockpit and gave the young girl her own set of pin-on wings.  All before making sure they were sitting comfortably in their assigned seats.

“What’s the worst thing that can happen?”  The little girl had asked her mother while waiting to board their flight before getting on the plane.

Her mother was now sitting in the aircraft with her seatbelt snugly fastened.  Her arms were comfortably draped comfortably at her side and a smile had replaced her once darkened, fear filled face. 

“He’s such a wonderful man.”  The woman said to her daughter as they smiled at each other.  “I would never have been well enough to fly without his help!”

Upon hearing the comfort in her mother’s voice, the little girl redirected her gaze toward the just closing cockpit door to her before she said, “The best thing that could have happened just happened!”

Piloting others with compassion always makes it possible to transport another person’s life to an otherwise impossible destination.