A Southwest pilot made a compassionate decision when he refused to take off without a man who was desperate to see his grandson one last time.The Arizona grandfather was visiting Los Angeles when he got some heart-wrenching news: His two-year-old grandson was going to be taken off life-support and time was running out.
Mark Dikinson was desperate to get to the boy in Denver. He wouldn't have made it on time if the pilot didn't hold the plane for an extra 12 minutes.
"I was really panicking because I really didn't think I would make the flight," said Dickinson.
Dickinson arrived at Los Angeles International Airport two hours before his flight, but a long line at security set him back. He said Transportation Security Administration agents were not sympathetic to his situation.
"They were pretty much of the opinion that it didn't matter what my particular situation was. I needed to go like everybody else, so I did," said the grandfather.
Dickinson said his emotions were running high and he was feeling sad and anxious not knowing if he would make it to Denver in time to see his grandson, Caden Rogers.
Caden was rushed to the hospital on Jan. 5 and put on life support after his mother's boyfriend allegedly threw him across the room, slamming the boy's head against a bed.
The boyfriend, 30-year-old Theodore Madrid, told police that he was drunk and high on marijuana.
"At the time, my biggest focus was I wanted to see my grandson and take care of my daughter," said Dickinson.
After he got through security, Dickinson said he was so rushed that he grabbed his shoes and ran through the terminal in his socks. When he arrived at his gate, he asked if the flight had left.
Dickinson said the pilot was standing by the jet way waiting for him said he was holding the flight.
Dickinson's wife had called the airline asking them to hold the plane. Dickinson said after the flight, he never got the chance to thank the pilot properly for such a human gesture in his darkest hour.
"I would just tell him that I can't tell him how grateful I am that he did that for me," said Dickinson.
A Southwest spokesperson said the airline has identified the pilot who held the flight for Dickinson. But according to company policy, the airline is holding off releasing his name until he gives permission.
They said the pilot was flying on Thursday and could not be immediately reached.
This story is from our sister station, KABC-TV, in Los Angeles.
carlse20 on April 6th, 2018 at 06:00 UTC »
I remember reading about this story from another source and that source quoted the pilot as saying to the guy “this plane doesn’t go anywhere without me, and I wasn’t going anywhere without you”
LoverlyRails on April 6th, 2018 at 03:14 UTC »
Damn....bad enough the child was dying. But dying due to abuse? That's horrible.
Raqped on April 6th, 2018 at 02:29 UTC »
Mark Dikinson was desperate to get to the boy in Denver. He wouldn't have made it on time if the pilot didn't hold the plane for an extra 12 minutes.
Dickinson arrived at Los Angeles International Airport two hours before his flight, but a long line at security set him back. He said Transportation Security Administration agents were not sympathetic to his situation.