Airline captain thanks medical workers traveling to care for patients in moving speech

A United Airlines pilot asked passengers to cheer for medical professionals traveling during the coronavirus pandemic in a moving tribute.

On Saturday, minutes before Captain Jim Crail was scheduled to fly from Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, he learned that a group of passengers on his flight were medical professionals who volunteered to assist amid the pandemic around New York where, as of Thursday afternoon, more than 220,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19.

“I was feeling semi-negative about waiting two hours in between flights,” Crail tells Yahoo Life. “It got me out of a funk — I’m in a mostly-empty airport and these guys are going into the heart of the battle.”

Crail also thought about his wife Debbie who is a clinic nurse with a medical history that makes her vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. With only minutes to gather his thoughts, he walked over to the gate’s intercom.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Capt. Jim Crail. I’m going to be commanding United Flight 2453,” he said to the crowded waiting area. “It is nonstop service down to beautiful Newark. I’m going to be assisted today by my first officer Brian McCasey.”

An emotional Crail continued, “Brian and I both have wives who are nurses and I understand that we have quite a few folks who are going to get on this airplane to travel down to the tri-state area to volunteer to help as medical professionals,”

“I’d like to ask all of you — would you please stand up? I know my wife would be totally embarrassed if I ask ‘em to do that,” he said, as the crowd clapped. “On behalf of my wife, everybody in the tri-state area, and the rest of the country and United Airlines, I really, really appreciate and thank you for what you are willing to volunteer to do.”

A fellow United employee had filmed Crail as he spoke. A United spokesperson tells Yahoo Life that the airline is currently providing free transportation to medical professionals, and the cleaning protocol on all flights has been upgraded during the pandemic.

“This came from the bottom of my heart,” Crail tells Yahoo Life. “...People are out there working hard and doing things I would never want to do.”

For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC and WHO’s resource guides.

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• Glossary of public health terms to stay informed

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• How to maintain your physical and mental health during the pandemic

• Taking care of a loved one with COVID-19? Here’s how to stay healthy

• COVID-19 and pregnancy: What we know so far

• How to find a job, unemployment insurance

• Q&A with Dr. Kavita Patel: How to keep your family safe and maintain your mental health

• Opening and cleaning delivery packages

• Tips for grocery shopping

• How to deal with potentially contaminated money

• How to do your laundry safely

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