US: Pilot Dangles Out Of Cockpit To Retrieve Passenger¡¯s Lost Phone

A pilot and the ground staff came to the rescue of a passenger after their phone was left abandoned in the terminal at Long Beach Airport in California, US.

Pilot dangles out of cockpit to retrieve passenger's lost phone

The pilot, who was flying out of Long Beach Airport, was just about to begin moving down the runway in preparation for takeoff, when he was alerted that a passenger had left their phone outside of the plane.

Twitter/@SouthwestAir

In the now-viral clip, the pilot can be seen sticking out of the cockpit window to grab a phone from ground staff after the plane had already left the gate at the airport.

At first, a staff member tried to jump and pass the phone to the pilot but was unsuccessful. Another member of staff at the airport then threw the phone upwards, and the pilot caught it, much to the delight of other staff members.

Southwest Airlines¡¯ official Twitter account tweeted the video for World Kindness Day yesterday (November 13).

When our Employees at @LGBairport noticed a Customer's phone left behind in a gate area after a flight that was already boarded and pushed back from the gate, they didn't hesitate. #WorldKindnessDay pic.twitter.com/cf3gJy8Nmy

¡ª Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) November 13, 2022

¡°When our Employees at @LGBairport noticed a Customer¡¯s phone left behind in a gate area after a flight that was already boarded and pushed back from the gate, they didn¡¯t hesitate. #WorldKindnessDay," reads the caption.

Thankfully, the passenger had their phone back just in the nick of time.

As per the spokesperson of Southwest Airlines, the Captain of the flight immediately suggested that the ramp agents on the ground try to jump the phone up to him so he could return it to the customer.

The rest of the incident was captured on camera.

Internet praises pilot's generous gesture

The video has garnered more than 65,000 views and over 1,700 likes. While other people praised the pilot for the generous gesture, some were surprised to see that the cockpit¡¯s windows were able to open.

¡°I had no idea those windows could open. How does the breeze feel at 35,000ft?¡± a person commented.

I had no idea those windows could open. How does the breeze feel at 35,000ft?

¡ª Tall LetsGoPenguins Paul (@tallpaul412) November 13, 2022

"Long Beach is a local airport that has great food and nice people that work there. Kudos for the staff!" a second person said.

Long Beach is a local airport that has great food and nice people that work there. Kudos for the staff!

¡ª Sharon Dahlberg (@SharonDHomes) November 14, 2022

"Southwest is very good about helping with your lost cell phone. They helped me get mine back after I turned on the alert. They reopened the gate door and brought it to me! I love Southwest Airlines!" a third person said.

Southwest is very good about helping with your lost cell phone. They helped me get mine back after I turned on the alert. They reopened the gate door and brought it to me! I love Southwest Airlines!???

¡ª Denezza Brown Thomas (@ThomasDenezza) November 13, 2022

"I LOVE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ,best crews best prices, best pilots and just as friendly as can be. You crews make flying a little less stressful, Love you all. STEVE," another added.

I LOVE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ,best crews best prices, best pilots and just as friendly as can be. You crews make flying a little less stressful, Love you all. STEVE

¡ª steve seiders (@seiders_steve) November 17, 2022

Isn't that a sweet gesture?

Just so you don't forget, one should always double-check and ensure they have every item with them before boarding a flight.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) collects and catalogues 90,000 to 100,000 items that are inadvertently left behind at airport checkpoints by harried and distracted travelers.

Those items range from scarves and sunglasses to laptops, smartphones, and other odd items, such as bowling balls, violins, gold teeth, and boxes filled with human remains.

It¡¯s easy to see how hats and scarves get left behind in the bins, but what about laptops, smartphones, and other essential items?

The TSA keeps items left behind at security checkpoints for a minimum of 30 days and posts phone numbers on its website where travellers can contact the lost and found departments at each airport. However, one should keep in mind that airports and airlines will have their own lost and found procedures for things left in the terminals and on airplanes.

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