Flight Attendant Gives Bad News To Pilot – His Response Leaves Passengers In Tears

When an airline pilot found out that a fallen soldier’s remains were aboard his flight, he decided to go the extra mile.

Captain Richard Rodriguez found out the family of the deceased soldier hadn’t received time with the remains before his casket was loaded on board, according to Inspire More.

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“My lead flight attendant came to me and said, ‘We have an H.R. on this flight. (H.R. stands for human remains.),” he wrote.

Rodriguez then let the family board early and decided to commemorate the soldier in a special way, recounts the captain:

“Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.”

Rodriguez stopped the plane and put it in park, announcing over the speaker:

“Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking: I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.”

The act brought the other passengers to tears.

“We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures,” he wrote on Facebook.

“A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

“When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later, more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of ‘God Bless You’, I’m sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

“Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

“I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA.”

Sources: Inspire More, Facebook / Photo credit: Newsiosity

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Flight Attendant Gives Bad News To Pilot – His Response Leaves Passengers In Tears