On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 10:43 am

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

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:43 am

Hey wait a minute ... wasn't Captain sweetn'juicey dead-heading on that flight. How bout it Capt. , can you shine some light on this missing money?

.

slowstream · Post by **slowstream** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:29 pm

Hey Rebel...............really nice story!

Hiflyer2 · Post by **Hiflyer2** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 4:08 pm

While looking for the thief.... was Robert Milton possibly on the Pax List???? Maybe under an alias. Nice story... the labour board would certainly love to hear that the flt attendant was personally responsible for that money. Definitely against Canadian Labour Laws. If thats the case maybe the gals should bring there own booze in to sell.

scubasteve · Post by **scubasteve** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 4:13 pm

Not sure about that. Many restaurants and bars make their employees responsible for people that walk on the bill and they also ask the person to supply their own float. I know an a/c is a little different but shooter girls usually buy the tray and are responsible for getting their money back.

neverever · Post by **neverever** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 4:20 pm

Maybe good ol' lefty Svend was on board. He's gotta pay for the ring doesn't he?

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 4:34 pm

Yeh, and if Svend was on board Kim wouldn't have to worry about being hit on by him.

TG · Post by TG » Sat Oct 09, 2004 12:08 pm

Girlfriend, (Air Canada purser) had the same adventure last may in a domestique flight.
The money's bag she was responsable for "'disappeared".
She only realised this at the end of the flight, fortunately only 35 $ was inside.
This should have been deducted from her payroll but she manage not after couple of persuasive phones call to her management.

I better not see one of these little b@st@rds doing this in front of me

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:38 pm

It'd be worth having it stolen just to catch the person who did it eh?

Thanks for the chicken soup Rebel

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 4:10 pm

co-joe

Hmm I don’t know about the chicken soup as I thought the story was about the compassion shown by others for the misfortune of another. In this context time and age, the story was rather remarkable.

Mitch Cronin · Post by **Mitch Cronin** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 4:20 pm

I thought that's what he meant by "Chicken soup"... something that makes you feel better.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 4:35 pm

How come I didn't think of that..

Edo · Post by **Edo** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:24 pm

Im suprised anyone flying AC had any left over change in their wallet.

Don't let Milton hear of this it will be included in the next budget

LT · Post by LT » Tue Oct 19, 2004 3:22 am

Girlfriend, (Air Canada purser) had the same adventure last may in a domestique flight.
The money's bag she was responsable for "'disappeared"

How convenient that you were on that flight, and the bag went missing..

Odd how they always disappear near the ID Pax.

the labour board would certainly love to hear that the flt attendant was personally responsible for that money. Definitely against Canadian Labour Laws.

God forbid anyone take any responsibility of their own.

Another parent that leaves their gun loaded under the bed and has their kid blow their brains out and go to sue the Gun manufacturer??

Obviously Air Canada employees can't "watch" the till, which would be dismissal and criminal investigations if cash went missing from a till(anywhere) or money "falling" off a brinks truck.

Conclusion from this article,

A. Stop selling booze, since your staff obviously can't handle the mundane task of serving and selling.

B. Hire some monkeys to do the job instead.

C. Don't fly with Kim Campbell.. =P

Vmo · Post by **Vmo** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:06 pm

That's the kind of story that revives hope in human kind.

Thanks for the story Rebel.

On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet

On Flight 792, a miracle at 35,000 feet

HMMMMMM