Compassionate Pilot Delays Flight For Grieving Grandfather
- Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:02am by
Meredith Jessup
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In a simple gesture of extraordinary kindness, one airline pilot delayed his plane by 12 minutes to ensure that one passenger would be able to say a final goodbye to his murdered grandson.
Mark Dickinson, the grandfather of a two-year-old who had allegedly been murdered by his daughter’s live-in boyfriend, was rushing to be at his grandson‘s bedside before doctors turned off the young boy’s life support machines. He was going to miss his connecting flight from Tucson to Denver until a compassionate Southwest Airlines pilot stepped in to help.
Dickinson set off from Los Angeles where he had been visiting on business and was trying to connect in Tucson for a flight to Colorado where his 26-year-old daughter lived with his grandson.
“I was panicking because I was running late and I didn’t think I was going to make the flight,” Dickinson said. “That’s all I was thinking about, ‘I’m going to miss the flight.‘ It was sad and I felt anxious because I didn’t know what would happen if I missed the flight.”
Although he had arrived at LAX in plenty of time for his flight, a long line at check-in and security left Dickinson struggling to board his flight on schedule. According to the Daily Mail, airport employees would not allow the grandfather to cut into the security line, even though he tried to explain his circumstances. “They were of the opinion that it didn’t matter what my situation was; I needed to go like everybody else,” he told the Daily Mail.
Despite his best efforts, Dickinson arrived at his departure gate in his stockinged feet 12 minutes late. To his surprise, however, the Southwest airlines pilot was waiting for him.
“Are you Mark?” the pilot reportedly asked. “We held the plane for you and we’re so sorry about the loss of your grandson.”
Dickinson’s wife, Nancy, wrote about his experience at the travel blog Elliot.org:
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.
Because of the exceptional kindness of the unnamed pilot, Dickinson was able to be at his bereaving daughter‘s side when his grandson’s life support was pulled later that night.
Additionally, turning one tragedy into hope for others, the young boy’s organs were due to be donated to as many as 25 other people who desperately needed them.
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Comments (144)
Docrow
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:08amAwesomeness!
Report Post »jhonjhonson1
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:07amTwo thumbs up for Southwest and the pilot!!!!
Report Post »getoutofmyhome
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:07amThis goes to show there is hope for our United States!!!!!!!!! America is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Skwerl E. Muckenfutch
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 12:50pmWe are great because we are good.
Report Post »bbdarthchris077
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:06am29 other people, wow did not know that a human’s organs can go that far. Way to go for the pilot, black eye for TSA.
Report Post »apollo18
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:45pmMaybe TSA avoided an “incident” at the security point, while eliminating just one of Mr. Dickinson’s fears. He didn’t seem angry at TSA and everything worked out. Perhaps “just anyone” isn’t smarter than the professionals. God bless the Dickenson family and all those that could help them get through this horrible criminal act. I’ll finish before I start my opinion about the criminal.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:52amThank YOU GOD for good,compassionate pilots and crew while we are on this earth. They give us a glimpse of YOU, our go-to forever pilot. Bless the pilots, crews, air traffic controllers and even the TSA people who are YOURS, FATHER. Help us all be a whole lot kinder than necessary and gentle when we can be. If that doesn’t work, help us kick b***! Thank YOU!
Report Post »Cdmfl
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:47amMade my day! Thanks.
Report Post »jttri
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:45amI fly a lot and South west is a fantastic airline, this just reinforces my spending my money on them.
Report Post »BorderCollieFeeder
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:38amOf course it was Southwest. I lost my big brother in January and went back to visit my Dad – who had lost two sons and a wife of fifty years in his life – and family in the Fall of 2007. It was a very emotional visit and I was on a Southwest flight back to FLA from Upstate NY. A half hour into the flight I began to struggle to keep it together – but I couldn’t – I just lost it. A kind flight attendant had been watching me and brought me a box of tissues and sat with me, positioning herself so that others on the plane couldn’t see my total emotional breakdown. Once I got myself together, she brought me hot tea and we chatted a little about the circumstances. When I landed at OIA and I exited the plane, the entire flight crew, including the pilot and co-pilot expressed their condolences or gave me a hug – all with genuine expression. Needless to say, Southwest is always my airline of choice. So glad for him and his family that Mr. Dickinson was able to be with his Grandson – how wonderful of the Southwest pilot to make a decision to provide this gift. Great story – good to hear there is still “kind” in humankind.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 3:11pmWhat a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.
Report Post »Cdmfl
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:37amGood for you Southwest & especially that very compassionate pilot who remains unknown. I hope we all can learn a lesson from him.
Report Post »bluzrider
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:35amFinally a story that tells me there are still some people with a little common sense. I hope someone with some authority at Southwest recognizes this pilots compassion and rewards him with an accommodation or something buy the man dinner at least. If they don’t, Id be happy to.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:30amYou know things are really out of hand
when a person (the pilot) does the right thing and it’s a news story!!
Great story.
Report Post »printdesignchicago.com
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:29amSouthwest is a great airline. The last of the good ones. Cheap seats, no insane checked-bag fees and great pilots!
This pilot went the extra frequent-flyer-mile! GREAT JOB!
Report Post »clipper@work
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:27amMy goodness,how did we get all of this human kindness without government intervention?
Report Post »saneasylum
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:26amJust maybe… that pilot taught everyone a lesson about compassion. That pilot is an asset to Southwest Air.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:11amGet out the Kleenex on this one! God bless that pilot and the Southwest for hiring such humane people. Prayers go out for all involved except, of course, the sub-human that caused this tragedy.
Report Post »Old Patriot
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:11amThat one little act is what America is all about. Southwest will always get my travel needs when I can.
Report Post »GTZ4EVER
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:07amGood story, thanks Meridith.
Report Post »shagstar
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:03amgreat story for once!
Report Post »now watch this pilot lose his job for being human.
JMJCE
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:26amAs a Southwest Pilot, I can assure you he will not be fired. To the contrary, he has already been applauded and celebrated by our Southwest leadership and the story has been shared with all our employees, emphasizing the importance of the central theme of Southwest “Living by the Golden Rule”. I only hope that the customer support individual who identified this poor man is identified and recognized by the public. He, or she, did an incredible job in calling ahead to inform the crew. I am BLESSED to be a pilot at such a great company!
Report Post »PeterWarner
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 11:19amFor JMJCE:
Thank you for taking the time to post that information. It is reassuring and in fact inspiring. May G-d be with you, and with your work.
Best regards, Peter Warner.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 1:31pmA company that hires human beings instead of machines. Where is the efficiency in that?
Report Post »FSM_47
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 2:47pmAfter the 1981 Controller strike a bunch of us went on temporary duty to other facilities. Southwest went overboard allowing us to hitch rides home to see out families. They have always had a special place among my generation of Air Traffic Controllers. Their pilots were always some of the easiest to deal with in difficult situations.
Report Post »Rodeoamy
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:57amYet another reason I love Southwest.
Report Post »camIndyUSA
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:55amGod bless the family and the pilot. There are some wonderful, compassionate people out there who shine when evil rears its ugly head. Perhaps there were some patient people on the plane that day who helped to make waiting a little easier for the pilot and crew.
Report Post »BellaMia7
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:50amSouthwest is our airline of choice mostly due to their humane treatment of passengers. Just listen to those mindless bureaucrats victimize the man by telling him that he warrants no special consideration.
Revealing a glimpse of what government health care will be all about: “Shut-up and get back in line, Mr. Nobody.”
Report Post »kilroy7
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:58amIn all fairness to the security people, for every person like this man who truly has a tragic story, there are 500 people who would LIE about a story like that just to get through security. If all they had to go on was his word alone, I can’t really blame them for making him wait in line.
I‘m also curious about how the pilot knew about the man’s situation.
Report Post »blanco
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:49amSouthwest Airlines employees are a different breed of people….they only hire these wonderful, upbeat, people and it shows…..great company……prices could be a little lower?
Report Post »MN Norsegirl
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:32amI’ll pay the few extra dollars for the better attutides and compassion of Southwest.
I think that is why America buys more foreign items then American. We sold out for “cheaper” things.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 11:41amI agree. The people I deal with at Southwest are unfaillingly kind and helpful. They speak English I can understand and are willing to go the extra mile to help me find a through flight or a cheaper flight. Reading this story made me like the airline even better.
Report Post »LibertyWon
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:46pmHad a similar situation 3 yrs ago when my Mother passed away. Continental sent a replacement plane out in the middle of the night to the middle of the pacific where my plane had broken down. Had they not, I would have missed the funeral.
Report Post »Speak without Fear
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:42amOMG…what a story! Trying to hold back tears…..and not doing so well.
Kudos to Southwest and the airline pilot that had compassion for this grieving Grandfather.
To the Grandfather and parents……..Prayers, my deepest condolences.
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:52amGoosebumps!
Report Post »MarkInSavannah
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:42amDespite their lousy on-time record, I’d fly Southwest anytime.
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:25amMaybe this is why they are late some times.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 12:58pmI thought they had one of the best on time records. Am I behind the times or is your info incorrect?
Report Post »expatinontariocanada
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:42amGod bless all involved, except that scumbag who caused it all.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:47amAgreed, so good to see some compassion in this ever increasing unjust world.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:52amSouthwest gets my vote. Sorry for your loss buddy. Prayers.
Report Post »mizflame98
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:53amIn the face of tragedy you’ll find an overflowing well of human kindness. God bless the pilot and God bless the grieving family.
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:08am.
God Bless that pilot and the family.
But where was the compassion from the TSA? Mr. Obama do you see or feel the pain you caused this man?
Report Post »PrisonGuard1977
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:13amHopefully the murder didn’t take place in Obamagrad aka Illinois. No chance of receiving the death penalty here.
Report Post »AmeriWoman
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:17amThank God for the people we have that have decent good hearts. In a world filled with bad it makes me find some peace when I read about goodness and kindness like this. My prayers for the family of the angel they gave back to Heaven and God Bless the pilot. GB all.
AW
Report Post »taskmaster78
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 8:31amI second that blessing, if more people shown others the same compassion we’d be living in a different world.
Report Post »FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:17amHe who hath LOVE HATH GOD. He who has not LOVE has not GOD. What is LOVE, simply putting someone else interest and needs before one’s self…………………..GOD is LOVE, He still is in control. Prayers for the family and a Thank you to the pilot for allowing GOD’s LOVE to be seen.
Report Post »1Patriotgal
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 10:24amThe poor pilot, who showed some human compassion, will probably be suspended or fired.
Report Post »The TSA, shold be dismantled, and anyone who works for them, denied unemployment, and encouraged to MOVE to China, where their talents can be better appreciated.
ChiefGeorge
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 11:12amI hope the pilot does not suffer at the hands of his employer. That would be a real shame. Thank you Sir for being a man of compassion when it trully counted and can be measured.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 11:29amI almost had a Boehner moment after reading this.
independentvoteril
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 12:31pmWhile I don’t beleive in organ donation I do believe in human compassion and what this pilot did was just outstanding…he is a man of honor.. and BTW thanks to whomever was responsible for the pilot hearing about this man’s dilemma .. May his grandson be cuddled by the angels in heaven..may the families loss be bearable and may God have mercy on the man‘s soul that did this even though we don’t think he deserves it..
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 12:58pmHow sad this story really is, but redemption happened and made it amazing! God bless that pilot for showing the compassion we see little of these days! Kudos for making a compassionate decision!
Report Post »Trouble2
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 3:35pmGod Bless that pilot.My prayers are with that poor family.
Report Post »afroggy
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 5:06pmThis is not an uncommon occurence. It happens all of the time in the airline industry. What is different about Southwest is that they have a truly wonderful PR department that feeds these human interest stories to the press. That is where the greatest difference is. This is a admirable way to do business. SW gains stature, and no one really loses in the transaction. Twelve minutes on a TUS-DEN can be compensated for enroute, and no doubt it was. Those tricks are what pilots are paid to accomplish.
Other carriers do this sort of thing all of the time (30 years of experience in the “pointy end” on this one). Most folks in the industry view this as common behavior. It is NOT unusual, but it is certainly commendable when it is done by any carrier. It is unfortunate that other airlines put less emphasis on “tooting their own horn”, but that is their loss and Southwest’s gain.
Report Post »fletcher1
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 7:49pmThis story made me cry. People can be so kind, it is awful that we all can’t be this way.
Report Post »waggie
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:18pmI just love great stories like this…
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:11amexpatinontariocanada i second that!!!!
Report Post »RoguePatriot
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 9:56amI am going to have to admit it, this story made me cry. I am a 34 year old married man with 3 sons and I could only imagine what this grandfather was going through. Thank God for this pilot and I pray he does not suffer at the hands of his employer. I do not think he will because Southwest airlines is the best airlines in the business! When others started to charge “BAG” fees, Southwest never did! God bless this grandfather and pilot and my prayers go out to them and their families!!!!
Report Post »duce023
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:11amI‘m a 45 year old man that doesn’t show a lot of emotion, but I couldn’t stop crying after reading this. Not just the fact that I have a grandson myself, or the tragic situation this man found himself in, but the compassion of the pilot. I travel Southwest on a weekly basis because of good fairs and ease of booking, etc…I’ve heard the flight attendance sing, joke, and make the flight as comfortable as it can be, but I’m never heard of such kindness. I know sometimes not having an assigned seat and sitting between two folks who might be overly plump can get people aggravated in SWA system of seating, but I can tell you this; this story has solidified my faith in this American success story (SWA), and I’ll always pick Southwest over any other airline when possible. God bless the pilot…Still crying…gzzz…
Report Post »Tayper
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:59am1Patriotgal
Report Post »Southwest will probably give him a raise. They’re a good outfit.
JoePajareeproject
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 6:55pmJust when I am ready to spit on humanity and give up on us…some dumb pilot makes me think we as humans may have a chance after all…jeez
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