Southwest pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family . . .

[bizjets101]

Very, very sad, a grandfather who was trying to race through the airport to get to the funeral of his 3-year old grandson who was murdered by his daughter's live-in boyfriend. Despite getting to the airport early, long lines were going to make him late for the plane and all the TSA drones couldn't give a damn. Finally through security, he ran through the airport in his socks, clutching his shoes, before arriving, gasping at the Southwest gate—12 minutes late.

"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."

LINK and Update (source) and links to the news of the murder, and letter from family to Southwest.

[oates76]

Class act

[Redneck_pilot86]

Best guess, what did this cost southwest? Don't get me wrong, good on the captain for helping a guy out during what I can only imagine is a very tough time. Just curious.

[Chaxterium]

Well I'm sure the good PR from this would more than make up for any costs to the company.

Awesome job by the captain.

[Northern Flyer]

Really who cares what it cost Southwest. You have to be human first, and a robot employee second.

[Meatservo]

.

[Panama Jack]

I like the things that Southwest does to get media coverage over the things Ryanair does to get media coverage.

[Meatservo]

Panama Jack, again your wisdom is unimpeachable.

[shitdisturber]

Best guess, what did this cost southwest? Don't get me wrong, good on the captain for helping a guy out during what I can only imagine is a very tough time. Just curious.

If you read the article posted by RVgrin on the same subject, apparently Southwest doesn't care what it cost them. A spokesman in the article said they were "proud of what the Captain had done."
A class act by the Captain, and a nice response by his employers.

[Hawkerflyer]

Good on the Captain. That was not a PR move, just a genuine class act move by an individual with good values.

[tsgas]

Remember that Southwest's emblem is a "heart" and their trading symbol on the big board is
"LUV". Well earned.

[Lester7]

Well done Captain................As much as px are usually just numbers, we need to remember that there are people behind those numbers.

[JBL]

Panama Jack, again your wisdom is unimpeachable.

Fully agree.

The media coverage will have more of a positive impact on Southwest, than their advertising campaigns. Very decent of the guy to have done that. Very decent.

[OceansEdge]

Class act indeed .. impressive
and
Good to hear Southwest seeing the value in patting the captain on the back, know all too many who would've rapped a guys knuckles for it.

[slowstream]

There's one for humanity!

I salute you Captain & Southwest!

[sigmet77]