A Pilot Stopped Takeoff For Grandparents Who Needed to Rush to Their Dying Grandson

A couple on an Etihad Airways flight received a tragic text message just as the plane was about to take off. The UK couple was asked to rush to the hospital to see their grandson, who was in intensive care. Although the aircraft was already taxiing on the runway to depart to its first stop in Abu Dhabi en route to Australia, the crew members were notified just in time. The pilot turned back to the gate, and the grandparents were able to unload their luggage while Etihad officials retrieved their car and had it waiting for them.

Thanks to the airline's help, the couple was able to say their final goodbyes to their grandson before he passed away the following day. "They were on their way to Abu Dhabi so if they hadn't been able to get off the plane, they may not have made it back in time," Becky Stephenson, their travel agent, told Travel Weekly. Etihad Airways has even told the couple that their tickets are redeemable for a future trip.

Although under unfortunate circumstances, it's heartwarming to see compassion turn into a sense of urgency that made all the difference for these grandparents.