A pilot aborted a plane's take-off so a couple could say goodbye to their dying grandson

A pilot who turned back a plane preparing to take off at Manchester Airport so a couple could say goodbye to their dying grandson has been praised as “truly amazing”.

Becky Stephenson, a travel agent from Bradford, said two of her customers were preparing to set off for Australia via Abu Dhabi when they received the news that the boy was seriously ill.

She told The Independent that they had already boarded the Etihad Airways flight and were switching off their mobile phone when they noticed a missed call from their son-in-law.

“They were taxiing on the runway when they got the text message saying their grandson was in intensive care and they needed to get there,” Mrs Stephenson said.

“They passed the message to the crew, who spoke to the captain and he turned the plane back.”

The pilot returned the aircraft to the boarding gate while staff arranged to get the couple’s baggage and assist them back through the airport and collect their car so they could drive straight home.

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