Etihad pilot aborts take-off so couple can see dying grandson

Top Stories

Etihad pilot aborts take-off so couple can see dying grandson
Etihad Airways flight

Dubai - The plane returned to the boarding gate to allow the grandparents to disembark and collect their luggage.

By Curated by Sarakshi Rai

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Tue 12 Apr 2016, 12:41 PM

Last updated: Wed 13 Apr 2016, 2:26 AM

An Eithad Airways pilot aborted take-off on a flight from Manchester Airport at the last minute to allow an elderly couple to get off the aircraft and rush to their dying grandson's bedside.
According to local UK newspapers, the Etihad Airways flight had already begun taxiing on the runway at Manchester Airport when the couple received a text message from their son-in-law saying their grandson was seriously ill and in intensive care.
The couple managed to enlist the help of the cabin crew who informed the pilots, who returned the plane to the boarding gate to allow the grandparents to disembark and collect their luggage.
The airline has received widespread praise for its actions on social media as every little detail had been taken care of. The flight was headed to Australia via Abu Dhabi from Manchester airport last Wednesday.
Sadly, their grandson died the following day, but not before the couple was able to see him thanks to the compassion showed by the airline staff.
The couple's travel counsellor Becky Stephenson took to her Facebook page to say that in her "25 years on the job had she ever heard of an airline going above and beyond with their customer service."
The couple was also informed by the airline that they can re-use their tickets to fly at another time to Australia.
Stephenson said on her Facebook post that the couple, who did not wish to be named, were thankful to have had the chance to say goodbye to their grandson.

People took to Twitter to praise Etihad. One user Shaun Milne posted, Hats off to crew here. Amazing show of compassion in tragic circumstances."
Some frequent fliers were so moved by the story that they even went to the extent of booking their next trip with the Abu Dhabi based airline.
Another Twitter user Kamran Muniree  posted, "It's amazing to see what the Etihad Airways pilot did. Just goes to show that there is still kindness in this world."
The Khaleej Times has contacted Etihad Airways for comment.


More news from