Late at night on 17 August, I received a phone call with news that no one wants to hear. Earlier that evening, with the love of his life holding his hand, my father passed away. In a previous post, I shared a remembrance of him. As devastating as the loss of my father was, my interactions with total strangers during that time restored my faith in my fellow Americans. So, in honor of my dad’s first birthday since his passing, I’d like to share my experience with you.
Plan A
When I received that phone call, I was on vacation with my wife and children in Jackson, WY – 2,000 miles from my parents’ home. It was ~10 pm local time, and there were no outbound flights until the next morning. After a fitful night of little sleep, I delivered the news to my children and headed to the airport. Despite arriving when the airport opened, there were no available seats on any eastbound flight. My original carrier couldn’t get me out until Thursday. Delta was able to find me a seat through Atlanta and ultimately to Cleveland (where our car was parked). From there, it would be a 5-hour drive to Winchester, VA. I booked the flight and spent the rest of the day with my family in Grand Teton NP.
Things Get Worse
The next day, my wife dropped me off at the airport shortly after it opened. I checked in, and everything seemed fine. I ate a light breakfast and drank a large coffee at a counter overlooking the tarmac. Our boarding time came and went without any announcement. Through the windows, I could see several technicians working under an aircraft with several panels removed. My stomach churned as our departure time loomed, then passed. Not long after that, we were informed that our plane had a fuel leak. About thirty minutes later, Delta officially canceled the flight. Over the next hour, the Delta service team pursued alternatives. With no seats available on other carriers, I sat with the other passengers, hoping for good news. It didn’t come.
Plan B
The best they could do was offer a bus ride to Salt Lake City, where there were more flight options. The catch was that the bus ride was 5+ hours, and there were only seats for the first 30 volunteers. It was after 10 am; in the best-case scenario, I would get into Salt Lake City around 5 pm. I checked the eastbound flights. There were no seats available until the next morning. Several passengers did the same math and decided to rent a car and drive to Denver. There were more flight possibilities in Denver, but the 8+ hour drive still meant leaving the next morning. At that moment, my luck took a 180-degree turn. A man tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “Are you up for an adventure?”
An Offer
I turned toward him, and before I could ask, he said, “I’m sorry to hear about your father. I need to be in Greensboro, NC, tomorrow night for the funeral of a friend’s father. I’m a pilot, and I’ve got a private plane about 40 minutes south of here. If you’re up for it, I’d be happy to fly you to Greensboro today.” I don’t remember how I responded, but he was leaving right after the airline offloaded his checked luggage. I called my wife and explained the situation. Unsurprisingly, she was a bit dubious about hitching a ride across country with a stranger. In the background, I heard my children expressing similar concerns. I glanced at my would-be savior; we hadn’t exchanged names yet, and I made a snap decision. I’d missed my father’s passing. I couldn’t change that, but if I took him up on his offer, I could at least be there for my mother. My wife expressed her concerns, but said she understood. I grabbed my bag and joined my new friend.
An Adventure
The man told me his name and asked me to call him BC. 
I offered to pay him for the flight. He refused, saying that he wasn’t a commercial pilot and couldn’t accept money. I asked about paying for fuel, surely that would be okay? He said it wasn’t necessary, but if I felt the need to pay for anything, I could buy him lunch. We went to a local deli where I bought him a sub and a drink. We picked up a few things at his home, he modified his flight plan to add me, and then we drove to his plane. On the drive, we discussed our careers and discovered that we were both UNC grads. Once we arrived, he prepped the plane, gave me a safety brief, and asked me to sit in the back. Two hours later, we landed in Nebraska City, NE, to refuel. The airport staff immediately recognized BC and quickly serviced the plane.
Co-Pilot?
As we were boarding, BC asked me if I wanted to move from the back to the co-pilot seat for the final leg of our flight. We continued to discuss all manner of topics with a few interruptions from air traffic control. About halfway through our flight, the plane’s radar screens lit up with an extended line of thunderstorms. BC altered our path and even asked me to help him visually call out thunderheads so he could ‘dodge’ them. We had a few close calls, but we eventually flew between storms and safely landed in Greensboro, NC. As we left the plane, I once again thanked BC for his generosity and trust and asked if there was anything I could do to repay him for his kindness. He replied that life had been good to both of us and that the best way I could repay him would be to pass along the kindness to others.
Post Flight
I just missed a commercial connection to Atlanta that could have gotten me to Cleveland and my car. Once I explained my situation, the Delta agent suggested my best option would be to abandon Cleveland, rent a car, and drive to Winchester. I called my wife, told her I was safe, and updated her on my new plan. After traveling more than 2000 miles in 18 hours, I tucked myself into my hotel room bed just shy of 2 AM Wednesday. Later that morning, I restarted the grieving process with my brother and mom. I miss my father and still feel pangs of guilt about not being there when he passed. That will never go away. However, the willingness of so many, in particular BC, to unflinchingly offer their help fills my heart with joy.
Our Featured Map
Today’s map is one I made myself. It features the route of my trip from Jackson, WY to Winchester, VA.
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
What a wonderful tribute to both your father and to the pilot who tapped you on the shoulder. Isn’t it a wonderful thing that total strangers would contribute by thought, by word and by their actions to help out a stranded traveler. Believe me, I’ve seen it before.
Rick, I’m glad my experience wasn’t an exception, but rather the norm. My experience – despite the nearly constant hysteria from the chattering class (both new and old media) – reinforces my belief in the people of our country.