Delta Airlines Rescues 41 Fifth Graders and Chaperones After American Airlines Leaves Them Stranded

Delta is back in the spotlight with more good news, this time regarding a bunch of fifth graders and their adult chaperones. A class trip was scheduled from Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers Airport to Washington DC on an American Airlines Flight. However, American Airlines announced that the flight was canceled and there were no alternative flights available, giving the entire party a full refund.

Chaperones began wondering if their trip would be canceled entirely and after waiting at the airport for 6 and a half hours, Delta gate agents eventually intervened.

Two of the agents at the Oklahoma airport reached out to the airline’s headquarters which is located in Atlanta Georgia. The headquarters were able to acquire a spare plane that was then flown to Oklahoma City just for the students.

One chaperone told the local news station, “It was absolutely amazing when Delta corporate came in and just said, 'We'll just give you the whole plane.’”

Cara Horn, who was one of the agents that was able to help the students told the same outlet that [they] were “thrilled” to be able to help get the entire group to their school trip destination.

“This heartwarming story is a testament to our culture and the to heart of Delta people that if you see an opportunity to do right thing, you take it every time. Seeing people for who they are, and not just customers of one carrier or another is what really made this story possible. While we are in the travel business, we see ourselves as in the people business first and we couldn’t be happier that these students were able to make their trip.”

Drake Castañeda, a Delta spokesperson, told Yahoo Lifestyle, “This heartwarming story is a testament to our culture and to the heart of Delta people that if you see an opportunity to do right thing, you take it every time. Seeing people for who they are, and not just customers of one carrier or another is what really made this story possible. While we are in the travel business, we see ourselves as in the people business first and we couldn’t be happier that these students were able to make their trip.”