Delta Airlines is being celebrated across social media after a video detailing their extraordinary act of kindness went viral. Hannah White shared her story of how the airline’s crew and passengers went out of their way to ensure she got 24 extra hours with her dying mother, Kathleen Nelson.
A race against time
Hannah’s mother was critically ill due to undiagnosed pneumonia that had progressed to septic shock. When doctors informed her that her mother had little time left, Hannah booked a flight from Dallas, Texas, to North Dakota, with a connection in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
However, her journey faced an unexpected hurdle when her flight from Dallas was delayed for over an hour due to mechanical issues. The delay meant she was likely to miss her connecting flight.
Delta’s team steps up
Distraught, Hannah shared her situation with a flight attendant, who initially informed her that it might not be possible to make the connection. The airline’s automatic rebooking system placed her on a flight scheduled for the following day. Overwhelmed with emotion, Hannah broke down in tears, fearing she wouldn’t get to see her mother one last time.
At this critical moment, Delta’s Captain Keith Napolitano intervened. He contacted the pilot of the connecting flight in Minneapolis and requested that the flight wait for Hannah. Miraculously, the pilot agreed.
Support from crew and passengers
The Delta Airlines team and passengers rallied behind Hannah. Her seat was upgraded to the front of the plane to expedite her deboarding process. The crew made an announcement requesting passengers to allow her to exit first. One passenger even pulled out a map of the Minneapolis airport to help her navigate to her next flight quickly.
Hannah managed to board her connecting flight, which had waited nearly 30 minutes for her arrival. Thanks to these extraordinary efforts, she was able to spend her mother’s final moments with her.
Gratitude and heartfelt thanks
Hannah shared her gratitude in a heartfelt post:
“My mom passed away the next day. Delta’s kindness gave me 24 extra hours with her. I was able to say, ‘I love you’ one last time and provide the comfort for her in her final moments that she provided for me my whole life.”
Social media applause
The story quickly went viral, with thousands commending Delta Airlines and the individuals involved.
One user commented, “We mostly hear weird news related to airline companies, but glad Delta stepped up on this day.”
Another added, “Such incidents make you believe that humanity is still very much alive.”
A third wrote, “The man mapping the airport for you, and all the people who made time stop so you could have 24 hours, makes me believe in humanity.”
This heartwarming story serves as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can leave an everlasting impact. Delta Airlines’ actions are a shining example of compassion and humanity in the face of adversity.