Air Force veteran and United Airlines pilot Scott Wardle left on a flight in September on what he thought was an ordinary day. The plane was going to Houston and then Phoenix from Boise, Idaho, where Scott calls home. But the day was anything but ordinary, starting with an emergency landing and ending with the pilot buying pizza for 155 passengers.
Things started to go wrong when about 45 minutes into the flight, Scott received a call that one of the passengers had passed out in the back of the airplane. Two medics and a nurse tended to him, and then he landed the plane in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is the closest airport.
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Once they landed, the paramedics were standing by for the man, and the rest of the passengers were delayed for a few hours. But that was when Scott learned his flight attendants had timed out. That means they could no longer fly with the plane, and they would need to wait for a new flight attendant crew to replace them. After talking to the company, Scott realized they would be at the airport longer than they thought.
“I got to do something with all these people,” he thought. It was also dinnertime. However, the food court was closing. Scott started coming up with a plan to help feed all 155 passengers. And he decided on pizza. “It’s an easy thing. Most people like pizza,” he said. And yes, most people do.
The pilot then ordered dozens of pizzas for the passengers and helped serve them. The pizzas were delivered and brought to the gate, where they set up a buffet at the counter to get everyone some food.
One of the passengers took photos and shared them on social media, and they went viral. Soon, the whole country knew what Scott had done to help his passengers, including the “Capital High Class of 1984 Reunion Group” he is a part of, which posted about his act of kindness.
“I didn’t think it was that big a deal. It’s just, I just did my thing,” Scott said. When asked why he stepped up, he answered, “Because I’ve been a pastor.” He wanted to make a bad day better for the people on his airplane.
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We all know how frustrating air travel can be sometimes. Thankfully, Scott was able to help make it easier for his passengers. He is now known as the “pizza pilot,” and United Airlines was so happy with what he did that they reimbursed the compassionate pilot for buying the pizzas.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” - Galatians 5:13
h/t: KTVB7
Photo Credit: YouTube/KTVB