Exclusive | American Airlines pilot comforts passengers on flight less than 24 hours after DC plane crash: ‘I have no higher calling’

A commercial airline pilot acknowledged this week’s deadly, midair plane collision during a heartfelt “welcome aboard” announcement aimed at comforting nervous passengers on a flight that took off less than 24 hours after the disaster.

“You might be fearful of flying, and that’s certainly understandable, but please just know that my first officer and our flight attendants and myself place your safety and the responsibility of carrying you to Miami, to your families or vacations or meetings, at the highest level,” the American Airlines pilot told passengers before taking off from Jacksonville.

“I have no higher calling than carefully, professionally transporting you today. So with that, relax and enjoy the beautiful evening that we get to fly in,” the pilot continues.

A recording of the soothing message is now a viral TikTok video viewed 5 million times.

The TikToker, Leighton Mixon, captioned the video, “After AA5432, This American Airlines Captain just said the exact words that I (and everyone else) needed to hear.

“Life is short, hug your people,” Mixon wrote, along with a red heart emoji. 

The pilot’s comforting words came just before the flight took off at 7:22 p.m. Thursday, according to public flight records — and less than 23 hours after an American Airlines passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Washington, DC, at 8:48 p.m. Wednesday night, killing 67 people. 

“After such a tragic event, I was facing so much anxiety and worry going into my travel day wondering how the crew would be and how their demeanors would be. How will they act? What will they say?” Mixon recalled. 

“And with one announcement, [the pilot] silenced all fear. It felt like he was speaking just to me, and then I looked up and quickly realized how badly every single person on the flight needed to hear what he had said,” he told The Post Friday.  

“It’s every pilot’s job to inform and take control, but his kindness and his empathy far surpasses his job description,” Mixon continued. 

TikTokers quickly flooded the comments section of Mixon’s video with praise for the pilot’s sincere message. 

“That is so kind of him knowing his heart is probably heavier than it’s ever been,” one user wrote. 

“His voice sounds like it broke when he said he had no higher calling … his heart is so so heavy,” another said.