“The Entire Plane Was Seated And Waiting”: Airline Helps Woman Get To Her Terminally Ill Mother

From experience of communicating with large companies, one often comes to the conclusion that they are just heartless machines for squeezing out profits, to whom all human feelings are almost alien. Sometimes, this is true, but still, first and foremost, people work for these companies. And surely they all have human feelings.

The story we’re going to tell you today began with a very sad circumstance—the author’s mother was dying, and the daughter flew across the whole country to see her for the last time. But, the way almost all of the participants in this story behaved really restored our faith in humanity.

More info: Instagram

The author of the post recently had to fly across the whole country to see her terminally ill mom for the last time

Airline assists woman to see terminally ill mother, seated on plane holding a coffee cup.

Image credits: untanglegrief

The mother had surgery and was doing well—but then her body went into septic shock

Text on Delta airline's help in seeing a terminally ill mother before passing.

Text describing a medical emergency, urgent family visit due to septic shock.

Text about flight delays and connections in Dallas and Minneapolis due to mechanical issues, related to airline assistance.

Image credits: untanglegrief

Delta airplane on a snowy tarmac, highlighting airline's role in urgent travel assistance.

Image credits: Chris Flaten / Pexels (not the actual photo)

The author flew from Dallas with a connection in Minneapolis, but her flight was delayed due to technical issues

Text discussing a woman's urgent flight request to see her terminally ill mother.

Text about a woman being informed of missing her flight and rebooking for the next day, concerning her terminally ill mother.

Tearful woman learning about terminally ill mother on a plane, highlighting airline support and empathy.

Image credits: untanglegrief

Woman seated on plane, holding a bag, exemplifying airline compassion and urgency to reach her terminally ill mother.

Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

The author was afraid she could miss her connecting flight, and the cabin crew decided to help her

Text about pilots and a woman needing to see her terminally ill mother; airline helps by delaying departure.

Text recounting airline's assistance, bumping passenger to first class for faster exit to see terminally ill mother.

Text about a man helping a woman find her connecting gate at the airport.

Image credits: untanglegrief

Hospital room with a bed and medical equipment, related to woman traveling to see terminally ill mother.

Image credits: Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

The pilot called the pilot of the connecting flight in Minneapolis and asked them to wait for the author

Text about a woman running through the airport to catch a flight to her terminally ill mother.

Text recounting airline staff waiting for a passenger to see her terminally ill mother.

Text recounting airline staff's kindness towards a woman heading to see her terminally ill mother.

Image credits: untanglegrief

Hospital bed with medical equipment; story of airline aiding a woman to reach her terminally ill mother in time.

Image credits: untanglegrief

The passengers let the author sit in first class so she could get off the first flight and run to her gate

Text expressing gratitude for an airline's kindness during a family emergency with a terminally ill mother.

Grateful passenger thanks Delta airline for timely help with family emergency.

Image credits: untanglegrief

The author finally made it and had 24 extra hours with her mom before she passed away

This story happened recently when the mother of the Original Poster (OP) was hospitalized with undiagnosed pneumonia and had surgery, and then, alas, went into septic shock. Our heroine got a call from her brother, who said that their mom could pass away at any moment, so the woman immediately rushed to the airport.

She took the next Delta Airlines flight from Dallas with a connection in Minneapolis, but the flight was delayed for an hour due to technical problems. As a result, already on the way, our heroine realized that she had little chance of making it to the connecting flight in Minneapolis. The OP was so upset that the flight attendant approached her and asked how she could help.

Our heroine, in tears, explained the situation and the cabin crew tried to help. The pilot of their flight contacted the pilot of the plane in Minneapolis and asked him to wait for the author. She was transferred to business class so she could get off the plane first, and one of the passengers took out an airport map to show her where the right gate was.

Finally, the plane landed, and our heroine rushed to the gate—and she made it! It turned out that the plane had been waiting for her for 30 minutes and seeing her on board, the staff welcomed her warmly. The pilot later shook her hand and wished her luck, saying that they would all pray for her.

The next day, the OP’s mom passed away, and the daughter, thanks to simple human kindness, was able to spend the last 24 hours with her to say “Goodbye!” one last time.

Woman smiling with a young girl, expressing gratitude to airline for helping reach terminally ill mother.

Image credits: untanglegrief

Experts say that many airlines actually have a special system in place to wait for late passengers so that they can make it to the connecting flight. For example, View From The Wing explains that many flights are actually projected to arrive early, so a small delay only means that the plane will arrive at its destination on time.

In addition, if it’s the last flight of the day, it can also be delayed because, in this case, it will mean a guaranteed overnight for passengers. Thus, it will be much easier for the airline to wait for a late passenger for up to half an hour than to arrange their overnighting. However, this doesn’t change the fact that both the cabin crew and the passengers behaved extremely nobly here.

People in the comments also praised the airline for being so kind for helping people. Some commenters also recalled similar situations from their life experience—and, sometimes, people around them did their best to help them. In addition, responders expressed sincere condolences to the author on the death of her mother.

People are glad that in the modern world, where there is often not enough time for ordinary human warmth, there is still room for noble deeds. “Faith in humanity restored,” someone aptly noted in the comments. And have you, our dear readers, ever encountered a similar situation? Please feel free to share your stories in the comments below the post.

People in the comments praised both the passengers and the cabin crew, claiming that they all did a very noble deed

Comment about missing a chance to visit a terminally ill parent, reflecting on the last time they were seen.

Emotional comment on social media about rushing to see a terminally ill parent.

Social media comment praising caring airline staff amid flying challenges.

Comment praising airline for helping passenger reach terminally ill mother.

Comment praising a woman for sharing her story about the airline helping her reach her terminally ill mother.

Instagram comment expressing sympathy for a woman who saw her terminally ill mother.

Comment expressing gratitude for airline's kindness to passenger with terminally ill mother.

Comment expressing appreciation for human kindness related to an airline helping a woman.

Comment saying 'Faith in humanity restored' regarding airline helping woman see terminally ill mother.

Comment on airline helping a woman reach her terminally ill mother: “This! This is what life is about.”

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