On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet
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On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet
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Oct. 8, 2004. 06:29 AM
On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet
It began with one selfish act of theft
It ended with a random act of kindness
SCOTT SIMMIE
STAFF REPORTER
Air Canada Flight 792, from Toronto to Los Angeles, brought out the worst in someone Wednesday night.
And the best in others.
Soon after the jet reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants came around with drinks. As usual, it was $4 U.S. or $5 Canadian for a drink with alcohol. What was unusual, however, was that the money the flight attendant had been collecting in two small change purses had disappeared. Vanished, while she was temporarily away from the cart.
No one else on board knew what had happened, except the person who apparently had stolen them. But something seemed unusual when the flight attendants passed down the aisle, briefly opening every overhead bin and peering inside.
Then the public address system came on and the employee who had been dispensing drinks, and is personally responsible for that money, came on and said words pretty close to this: "The small purses containing the receipts from the in-flight service have gone missing. If passengers would please take a look around their seats, I'd really appreciate it. I'm a single mother and I'm responsible for that money."
People stopped watching the movie and started scouring the floor. Former prime minister Kim Campbell, seated in executive class, checked around. Another first-classer, who looked an awful lot like Kids in the Hall's Kevin McDonald (it might not have been him — it was dark), scanned the floor.
No stray purses. No money.
As the flight progressed, passengers kept asking the flight attendant if anything had turned up. Nothing had. She was going to be out $200 — or more.
Then a couple, who had been happily nuzzling in row 16, had an idea. They told the flight attendant they wanted to collect a few bucks from each passenger so the money wouldn't come out of her own pocket.
"Please, don't," she said, on the verge of tears. "That's so nice of you, but I just couldn't — you shouldn't — "
They did.
"Hey, people," they shouted through the craft. "The flight attendant hasn't found that money and we'd like to take up a collection. If you can contribute anything, it would be great."
And then, like a miracle at 35,000 feet, the money started to float in. Some sent fivers, but there were twenties, too. Even a $50 bill came forward (or back — it appeared to come from the executive class section). For the record, it seemed from a distance that Kim Campbell had also chipped in.
The nice folks in row 16 handed the woman a thick wad of bills. The flight attendant was in tears. "If there's anything extra, just give it to your favourite charity," they said.
As the flaps extended and the jet slowed for its approach to Pearson, the flight attendant picked up the mike. Someone in row 17 picked up a pen.
"I'm a bit close to tears at this point," she said, her voice breaking. "I cannot express my gratitude for your kindness. I wish I could send each and every one of you a simple thank-you. It's an amazing thing to see so much spirit among so many of you. I'm totally overwhelmed by the whole thing," she said, pausing to catch her voice.
"My best wishes to all of you, always."
And then Air Canada 792 — just another flight from Los Angeles to Toronto — lined up with the runway
Oct. 8, 2004. 06:29 AM
On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet
It began with one selfish act of theft
It ended with a random act of kindness
SCOTT SIMMIE
STAFF REPORTER
Air Canada Flight 792, from Toronto to Los Angeles, brought out the worst in someone Wednesday night.
And the best in others.
Soon after the jet reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants came around with drinks. As usual, it was $4 U.S. or $5 Canadian for a drink with alcohol. What was unusual, however, was that the money the flight attendant had been collecting in two small change purses had disappeared. Vanished, while she was temporarily away from the cart.
No one else on board knew what had happened, except the person who apparently had stolen them. But something seemed unusual when the flight attendants passed down the aisle, briefly opening every overhead bin and peering inside.
Then the public address system came on and the employee who had been dispensing drinks, and is personally responsible for that money, came on and said words pretty close to this: "The small purses containing the receipts from the in-flight service have gone missing. If passengers would please take a look around their seats, I'd really appreciate it. I'm a single mother and I'm responsible for that money."
People stopped watching the movie and started scouring the floor. Former prime minister Kim Campbell, seated in executive class, checked around. Another first-classer, who looked an awful lot like Kids in the Hall's Kevin McDonald (it might not have been him — it was dark), scanned the floor.
No stray purses. No money.
As the flight progressed, passengers kept asking the flight attendant if anything had turned up. Nothing had. She was going to be out $200 — or more.
Then a couple, who had been happily nuzzling in row 16, had an idea. They told the flight attendant they wanted to collect a few bucks from each passenger so the money wouldn't come out of her own pocket.
"Please, don't," she said, on the verge of tears. "That's so nice of you, but I just couldn't — you shouldn't — "
They did.
"Hey, people," they shouted through the craft. "The flight attendant hasn't found that money and we'd like to take up a collection. If you can contribute anything, it would be great."
And then, like a miracle at 35,000 feet, the money started to float in. Some sent fivers, but there were twenties, too. Even a $50 bill came forward (or back — it appeared to come from the executive class section). For the record, it seemed from a distance that Kim Campbell had also chipped in.
The nice folks in row 16 handed the woman a thick wad of bills. The flight attendant was in tears. "If there's anything extra, just give it to your favourite charity," they said.
As the flaps extended and the jet slowed for its approach to Pearson, the flight attendant picked up the mike. Someone in row 17 picked up a pen.
"I'm a bit close to tears at this point," she said, her voice breaking. "I cannot express my gratitude for your kindness. I wish I could send each and every one of you a simple thank-you. It's an amazing thing to see so much spirit among so many of you. I'm totally overwhelmed by the whole thing," she said, pausing to catch her voice.
"My best wishes to all of you, always."
And then Air Canada 792 — just another flight from Los Angeles to Toronto — lined up with the runway
Nice story, but perhaps the original PA should have sounded something like "one of you has that purse, so when we land police will board the aircraft and search every bag and the entire cabin. Noone is getting off until the purse is found."
Might have saved the pax a few bucks.
Might have saved the pax a few bucks.
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I had the same thing happen on a flight...the petty cash bag was lifted during a short sector. The money was minimal but the c.card receipts were substantial.
I made a PA telling the pax what had happened and advised them the police would meet the a/c.
I was wary of antagonising the innocent, but I was betting the 20 minutes left of the flight would cause our theif to break into a sweat.
Sure enough, when the cops boarded they proceeded down the cabin merely eyeballing each row before letting them off. By the time they got to the second last row they spotted the discarded receipts under the seat of a dodgy looking 'youf' who the CCMs had suspected all along.
He was 'interviewed' and then arrested.
He had more c.card receipts in his pockets.
Straight to jail.
Lovely feeling.
I made a PA telling the pax what had happened and advised them the police would meet the a/c.
I was wary of antagonising the innocent, but I was betting the 20 minutes left of the flight would cause our theif to break into a sweat.
Sure enough, when the cops boarded they proceeded down the cabin merely eyeballing each row before letting them off. By the time they got to the second last row they spotted the discarded receipts under the seat of a dodgy looking 'youf' who the CCMs had suspected all along.
He was 'interviewed' and then arrested.
He had more c.card receipts in his pockets.
Straight to jail.
Lovely feeling.
Grandpa Aerotart
Yep lovely sentiment and a nice result...however I would have made the Police PA...it worked on one of my flights just not long back...fella with many handphones, most of which were not his...a couple of wallets too. A timely PA and everyone remaining seated after arrival at the aerobridge will bring most guilty parties to a state of fear they are unable to contain.
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What a great passenger experience 
First, you have to pay for your drinks
Then you have to pay again, because the carrier allows the money to be stolen, by not providing its employee with a secure method of storing cash and the employee inadvertently applies "emotional blackmail."
Don't try this in Europe please - I'd prefer the police at the gate, to deal with the cause, not the symptom. Don't mind a delay either, to deal with crime.
First, you have to pay for your drinks
Then you have to pay again, because the carrier allows the money to be stolen, by not providing its employee with a secure method of storing cash and the employee inadvertently applies "emotional blackmail."
Don't try this in Europe please - I'd prefer the police at the gate, to deal with the cause, not the symptom. Don't mind a delay either, to deal with crime.
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final3greens, if you read the first post correctlt, it states that the pax were donating money voluntarily. they were not made to pay for their drinks again as you have stated in your post.
........ and reading this post we know which pruners would have donated money, and which wouldn't.
Sometimes the feeling gained by helping someone can outweigh the negativity that some young ne'er do well got away with 200 bucks. There isn't a right way and a wrong way to deal with this situation. Such an appeal might fall on deaf ears next time, just as the thief might be able to bluff his way past the police next time
Sometimes the feeling gained by helping someone can outweigh the negativity that some young ne'er do well got away with 200 bucks. There isn't a right way and a wrong way to deal with this situation. Such an appeal might fall on deaf ears next time, just as the thief might be able to bluff his way past the police next time
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Wot would have been really sweet is the airline not being greedy bitchs and charging people for drinks!
P.S. Most cases of galley hag theft are by fellow gally hags!
P.S. Most cases of galley hag theft are by fellow gally hags!
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aeulad
I care about dealing with criminal behaviour properly.
I care about organisations providing their employees with secure methods of handling money.
I care about providing customers with excellent service, not exposing them to emotional blackmail.
I care that voluntary donations should assist people in need, not cover over the criminal actions of tea leaves.
Serious, you bet, overlooking this type of behaviour does not help society in general.
I care about dealing with criminal behaviour properly.
I care about organisations providing their employees with secure methods of handling money.
I care about providing customers with excellent service, not exposing them to emotional blackmail.
I care that voluntary donations should assist people in need, not cover over the criminal actions of tea leaves.
Serious, you bet, overlooking this type of behaviour does not help society in general.
