Delta pilot turns plane around so family can make funeral

A Delta pilot has been dubbed a Good Samaritan - after turning a plane back to the gate to ensure a family could make it to a funeral.

The Short family had experienced a 90-minute flight delay from Phoenix to Minneapolis, which left them with 10 minutes to make their connecting flight to Memphis. It was also the last flight of the day, and if they didn't make the flight they would miss the funeral of Jay Short.


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By the time they arrived at the connecting flight's gate, the plane was already pulling away, and they were told they were too late.

Speaking to ABC News, Jay's daughter Nicole Short-Wibel said: "This was our last chance to say goodbye to my dad and if we missed the flight, we would have missed the funeral."

Jay's son Rick and his two sisters were waving their arms at the pilot and crew "pleading with them not to take off".

Captain Adam Cohen saw the family's desperation and decided to turn the plane around and head back to the gate.

Jay's wife Marcia Short said Cohen "blessed my family and gave us a gift that no one else could. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Nicole told Q13 Fox News: "I was just crying.. I couldn't believe we were going to miss that flight and we are very, very thankful for those pilots."

Nicole posted a statement from her mother Marcia about the whole incident on Facebook:

Cohen said: "This is something we'll take with us, knowing we made a difference."