Lifestyle

Father Pilot Surprises Son on Flight Back From Deployment

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Homecoming stories still bring tears to our eyes, and this one is no different. A pilot surprised his son returning from Kuwait by captaining his entire flight home.

First Lt. Mario Lopes, 25, was just ready to be homebound after spending nine months in Kuwait on Army deployment. However, as he boarded the plane, he heard a familiar voice ask, “First Lieutenant Lopes, what are you doing on my aircraft?”

As TODAY reported, his father, Captain Mario Lopes decided to surprise his son by offering to pilot the United Airlines flight that would bring his son’s unit home. Through a military family awareness program, Lopes and his wife heard that his son might be leaving Kuwait to fly to Germany on April 13. From there, his son would return to Norfolk, Virginia.

However, Lopes took his chance and decided to fly the plane from Germany to the United States, surprising his son in the process. The entire interaction is caught on video below and as a warning, you might need a tissue.