A United Airlines pilot from Boise turned an emergency landing into a heartwarming moment by buying pizza for all his stranded passengers.
Our faith journey isn’t just about Sunday services, daily prayers, or Bible reading – though these strengthen our relationship with God. It’s about living out His greatest commandment: to love others as He loves us.
When we put others first and help those in need, we reflect our Father’s heart. This story reminds us that every situation, even a flight delay, can become an opportunity to show God’s love in action.
Captain Scott Wardle was flying United Airlines flight 2480 from San Francisco to Houston on September 13. During the flight, he received an urgent call about a passenger who had passed out.
Two medics and a nurse who were on board rushed to help. Wardle knew he had to act fast and decided to land at the nearest airport in Albuquerque.
After landing, paramedics took care of the sick passenger. But then Wardle faced another problem – his flight attendants had worked more hours than allowed by law.
The passengers would have to wait several hours for a new crew to fly in from Chicago. This meant 155 people would be stuck at the airport during dinner time.
Wardle noticed the airport food court was getting ready to close. He didn’t want his passengers to go hungry, so he came up with a solution.
Wardle ordered dozens of pizzas with different toppings – cheese, pepperoni, and a mix of meat and vegetables. To make sure everyone got their fair share, he set up a buffet right at the ticket counter.
Instead of just ordering the food, Wardle took charge of serving it too. He organized the passengers by their seat numbers and made sure everyone got enough to eat. “I know what it feels like to be stuck in an airport,” he said.
“We had to do something to show we care.” His humble attitude showed through when he said, “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, I just did my thing.”
The story spread quickly after a passenger named Tanya Stamos shared photos on social media. Soon, Wardle was featured on the Today Show, and his old classmates from Capital High in Boise’s class of 1984 were talking about it. Even his Air Force friends from across the country reached out to him.
United Airlines praised Wardle’s actions and paid him back for the pizzas. But for this Air Force veteran who loves his job, it wasn’t about the money.
“You have jobs and then you have jobs, and this is a great job. I like what I do,” he shared. His genuine care for his passengers turned what could have been a seven-hour ordeal into a memorable experience of people coming together.
When we look at the news today, it’s easy to feel discouraged by all the negative stories. But stories like Captain Wardle’s remind us that God’s love is still at work through people who choose to serve others.
WATCH: Pilot Buys Pizza for All Stranded Passengers After Emergency Landing
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