AN Australia-bound jumbo jet suddenly aborted take-off from Manchester Airport - so an elderly couple could get off and be at the hospital bedside of their dying grandson.
An Etihad flight destined for Australia was taxiing onto the runway at Manchester Airport when the pilot suddenly did a U-turn, last week.
An elderly couple on-board had received a text message from their son-in-law saying that their grandson was in intensive care.
After being informed of the tragedy, quick-thinking cabin crew stepped in and turned the plane around.
Upon returning to the terminal, the couple disembarked the aircraft and had their luggage taken off the plane.
By the time they were ready to leave the airport and head for the hospital, Etihad staff had found their car and had it waiting for them.
The couple managed to reach the hospital and spend time at their grandson’s bedside, who sadly died the next day.
If the plane had taken off and the couple turned around at their stop-off in Abu Dhabi, they would not have made it in time to see their grandson before he died.
The couple’s heart-breaking story was shared on Facebook by their travel agent Becky Stephenson and messages of praise for the cabin crew’s actions have been pouring in from around the world.
It has been reported that Etihad said it will honour the couple's tickets.
Do you know the couple? Email sam.editorial@messengergrp.co.uk.
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