The pilot becomes emotional while talking to passengers before the flight; He cries and everyone claps

A pilot’s retirement is a special moment, often attended by family and friends, and often celebrated with a water cannon salute at the airport. For example, American Airlines pilot Jeff Vail made an emotional announcement during his final flight before “hanging up his hat.”

On Phil’s last flight, from Charlotte to Chicago-O’Hare, he thanked his family for being there as passengers to celebrate his 32-year cabin career.

He declared his love for them all and especially thanked his wife for supporting him throughout the years he spent away from work. He apologized in advance if he became emotional during the announcement.

The moment was a celebration of not only his career, but also the countless take-offs and landings he has made over many years. Passengers came together to celebrate and acknowledge the importance of this moment for the pilot.

Retired airline pilots can be a bittersweet time, especially when they’re not ready to say goodbye. Pilots often have no control over when they retire due to age rules set by legislation.

Currently, the mandatory retirement age for pilots is 65 in the United States. This age was raised from 60 years to 65 years in 2007. The justification for this rule is that age can lead to physical and cognitive decline that can compromise safety in flight.

However, there are debates about whether these rules are based on valid factors. Some people believe that airlines should take into account the health and skills of individual pilots, rather than setting a fixed retirement age.