Passenger delayed in security line wanted to see grandchild one final time
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comSouthwest holds plane so man can see dying grandson
Seeded on Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:18 PM EST (msnbc.com)
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With all the garbage in the news lately, it's nice to hear a story with a little bit of light in it. Kudos to the pilot for putting humanity above his job!!
So sory for the grandfather to even be in that situation though. What MONSTER would hurt a child? People like that should be exterminated.
My hats off not only to the pilot but also to Southwest, who seems to be the ONLY airline that gives their employees the latitude to do what makes sense in "human situations". Had the pilot worked for another airline, he would likely have been in fear of losing his job for delaying a flight. Southwest understands that treating people well is GOOD for business. It's the one airline I fly where the employees don't all seem to HATE their jobs.
So my hat is off to the pilot and also to Southwest. I hope you get a lot of business because you and your employee decided that doing the right thing was the right thing to do!
I don't fly because I firmly believe no American should voluntarily give up his/her Constitutional rights. IMO, if Americans won't make such a small patriotic sacrifice to fight for their rights, they don't deserve to call themselves Americans.
However, I would fly in a case such as this -- a family emergency. And, God forbid that should ever happen, if at all possible, I would fly Southwest.
I fly southwest almost exclusively for domestic air transportation. I recommend that airline to everyone.
No I don't work for them, I just spend a LOT of money flying every year.
Commendable. If you've ever gone to be with a dying relative, you know how much this means. Hat's off to the pilot and the airline.
I am glad this article exists.
I am not. The fact this article exits is because someone who shouldn't be called a human being viciously attacked and killed a defenseless toddler. Had this man not done that there would have been no need for this article.
The pilot is a real Mensch! That act of kindness is rare these days. My condolences to the family, I can't begin to imagine how they must feel. What a tragedy.
Whenever a woman's small child is abused, one of the first suspects is the woman's boyfriend - typically a man with no biological connection to the child. In this scenario, the child may be seen as interfering with his relationship with the mother; alternately, the man is immature and a bully, without compassion or patient tolerance for a child's normal behavior.
Women: be cautious about leaving your child around your boyfriend!
Any woman who leaves her child with a dickweed boyfriend who subsequently hurts or kills her child is just as culpable as he is, in my book.
WTF is up with these women who put up with abusive men? If they want to be abused, that's their business. But to expose a child to abuse is unforgivable.
In the pain that is this world let the light shine from a good deed for America to see.
I say the pilot is person that cares and goes the extra hundred miles. I wish there were more like him in the world today
Thanks for a rare sign of human kindness in an increasingly dehumanizing industry.
in such a sad situation that pilot gave this man a hand up out of the darkness. goodness in that faceof tragedy. A hand for the pilot and southwest airlines.
Kudos to the pilot. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I believe this act of kindness makes a world of difference to Mark, and to the family of the boy.
Nice to hear that there are still people in this world who are kind enough to think of others before themselves. Kudos to the pilot and the airline.
It's very heartening to hear that there are still some nice people in the airline business. Condolences to the gentlemand and many thanks to the pilot and crew.
I sure hope that the pilot doesn't get reprimanded or fired after some time passes and this is no longer on the front page. I wouldn't put it past anyone in what is laughingly referred to as 'management' in that industry.
You know this is Southwest, right? This is THE only airline with a heart! lol
Southwest won't fire him. They will probably bring him in to help teach part of their customer service training. They are the one airline that seems to get it.
This article left out Southwest's official response to the incident. They not only won't fire the pilot, they fully support him.
From the Denver Post:
"Marilee McInnis, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, said Friday the company is proud of the pilot, but has not released his name pending his approval.
"We empower our employees to make decisions on behalf of our customers," McInnis said. "While we can't wait for every late customer, we knew he had an extreme family emergency and the pilot specifically decided to wait." "
The full article can be found here:
Part of me wants to think that any pilot for any airline would have held up the plane for a situation like this, but part of me also thinks that this is why I fly Southwest Airlines whenever I can. They by far have the best people working for them.
Thank you, sir, for your compassion and conduct.
Southwest has the best employees for a reason - they seek them out, and nurture them as much as possible. It has been an important part of their philosophy since the beginning.
Many businesses can benefit from having an environment where employees feel comfortable doing the right thing, even if it contradicts the usual policies (within the bounds of safety and the law.)
God Bless Southwest and the pilot for holding the plane!
Another reason I fly Southwest and only Southwest.
Sadly the TSA acted exactly as I would have expected: with no intelligent thought, just rote repetitive stupid.
The Southwest crew acted precisely as I would have expected, having flown them exclusively for the past 9 years...
BRAVO SOUTHWEST!!
Don't ever expect thought and intelligence from a government run institution.
Maybe all TSA workers should be required to have the, now famous, body scan. Then the ones that wouldn't help this man, or couldn't relate to his tragedy, could be eliminated from the work force for cause--they lack a heart and/or brain.
I'm with you AMP. However, I'm not surprised. My experience with airport personnel, and that includes custom officials, that they are rude and indifferent a good deal of the time. They severely lack in people skills and, probably, education. Fortunately, the pilot had a heart (and deserves a medal) and did the decent thing.
I hope those TSA workers are put in a similar situation sometime, and are treated the way they treated this man.
Kudos to the pilot.
It won't happen....the TSA has a private line for employees and they don't have to wait in line. I have family that work for the TSA...
Too bad. What is wrong with people who act this way?
The man who lost his grandson, I'am so very sorry for you and your family. I cannot imagine the pain that you must be feeling at this time. May God be with you and your family.
To the pilot, God bless you, I was with my Dad when he passed and as hard as it was I will never regret holding his hand when he took his last breath. You did something wonderful for another human being and his family and you should be very proud of that forever.
The small things that we do for one another are the ones that count the most. Sometimes in todays world it isn't to be human, or humane, but it is always the best thing to do in any situation.
Bravo to that pilot for standing up and doing what is right. His selfless actions restore a bit of my faith in humanity. I hope the poor boy is resting in peace, since he obviously didn't get any during his lifetime.
Thanks to SW Airlines for being a caring, compassionate company. I am sure that it meant everything to that grandfather.
Standing up and doing the right thing will along way in how the public views you and your priciples.
Southwest has always and will continue to be my family's choice in airlines.
A pilot with common sense....who'd a thought!
Thanks SW.
Obviously the TSA employees missed President Obama and the First Lady's call for more empathy in our society. I understand that they have probably heard all kinds of excuses as to why someone should by fast tracked through security, but who would make something like this up? Human decency says they should have acted better. Seriously, would they want to go home that night to brag to their kids how they caused a man to miss seeing his grandson before he died?
Thank you to the pilot for waiting. As Neil said, I also hope that when this story is forgotten that the pilot is not reprimanded for being off schedule.
A dear friend of mine, in a custody battle against her child's father who had abused the wife AND child, was blindsided by a corrupt judge in a small Alabama town giving custody to the abuser to protect the judge's financial stock in the bank in which the husband worked. Her child was removed and taken away by the husband's mother BEFORE the judge had issued his ruling, showing that the judge had ex parte communication with the husband's side. My friend did not even get to say goodbye to her six-year-old (she didn't see her for almost a year.) Needless to say, my friend was devastated beyond words. Scheduled to fly home to Texas that afternoon, my friend stumbled, weeping, into the Southwest terminal. The gate personnel, seeing her condition, quietly asked her if she were okay. Upon hearing what had happened, they immediately escorted her onto the plane rather than have her wait in the crowd and without a word, placed her in first-class at no additional charge. My friend has her daughter back after a three-year custody battle and Southwest has TWO loyal customers. We are both still deeply moved and appreciated at the treatment she received on the absolute worst day of her life.
I didn't know Southwest had a first class section!!
It sounds to me like ALL of Southwest is first-class!
Southwest doesn't have first class. The entire plane is the same.
Southwest used to have a first class section way back when
What a thoughtful pilot, SHAME ON YOU TSA.
Yet, another reason why I LOVE this airline!!!!!! They have a heart and care about their employees and their passengers. The other airlines should take note of this. And the TSA need to stop acting like they are "holier than thou" and quit going out of their way to inconvenience people.
Good for Southwest! It is nice to know that it is about the customer and not their procedures and bottom line. As for the TSA, well, still the best job one can get with a junior high education and unfortunately, they prove thier stupidity on a regular basis and then wonder why no one respects what they do.
Bless you southwest..Shame on you TSA..that grandparents grief is beyond words...Bless all involved..other airlines can also take a lesson..
WOW, doing the right thing and standing for what matters! Sadly, it is becoming more the exception than the rule these days. Kudos to the pilot and the Airline! I rarely fly Southwest. After this article I wish I could fly them more.
Actually, Southwest COMMENDED the pilot (who asked to remain annonymous).
The people who need to be called on the carpet is TSA (right on up through Janet Incompetano) for LAUGHING at this gentleman AFTER he explained his situation (asking to be allowed to go to the front of the line). THE LACK of compassion of TSA is INEXCUSABLE! The TSA Agent should be FIRED, and Janet Incompetano should RESIGN (OR BE FIRED by Obama)!
This just typifies what we can come to expect from ObamaCare? I can't WAIT for my first Emergency Room visit (being told to wait at the end of the line, while my loved one is dying)! It will make me LONG for the "efficiency" of the Post Office lines!
Please, this has nothing to do with the President. The TSA was created long before he took office. It's been a swamp since the beginning.
And how many times does it have to be stated that there's nothing in the so-called "Obamacare" legislation authorizing, permitting, encouraging, or whispering about a government "takeover" of doctors' practices. Coming from a family with 3 doctors, I've seen up close and personal that private insurance companies are already doing an excellent (NOT!) job of controlling how medicine is practiced.
But in all fairness, I share your distaste for the Post Office's gelatinous "service".
Dan ... please stop trying to introduce facts into this discussion. It is much more fun to rant and rave about "ObamaCare" based on vague rumors.