Etihad pilot aborts flight for dying grandson

Dubai: Social media was all praise for the Etihad pilot who made a last-minute decision to abort a flight, allowing an elderly couple see their dying grandson.

The incident occurred on April 6 at Manchester Airport, according to international media reports, on an Australian-bound flight that was travelling via Abu Dhabi.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the Etihad aircraft had already begun taxiing on the runway when the couple received a text saying their grandchild was in intensive care.

After notifying the cabin crew and pilot about the news, the flight was aborted at the last minute - making a U-turn back to the boarding gate in order for the grandparents to retrieve their luggage.

"The couple managed to reach the hospital and spend time at their grandson’s bedside, who sadly died the next day," reported the Manchester Evening News. 

The story was shared on Facebook by the couple's travel agent Becky Stephenson, who said: “They were on their way to Abu Dhabi so if they hadn’t been able to get off the plane they may not have made it back in time."