United Airlines First Officer Daniel Lustman had a special passenger on a recent flight from Portland, Maine to Chicago, Illinois – his airlines captain father.
Capt. Rob Lustman had to retire from flying the big jets after he was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Lustman the son flew his dad in the latter’s retirement flight out of Maine.
The elder Lustman received an emotional farewell to flying with family, friends, and coworkers celebrating his career, People.com reported.
The younger Lustman said his pilot father first put him in the front seat of a small plane when he was 12 years old.
Since that day, he said, he always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Just last month, he flew the most meaningful flight of his career.
After his father was diagnosed with ALS, he piloted his dad’s retirement flight in a touching full-circle moment.
“My whole dream has been to always fly a flight with my dad,” he says. “The next best thing was to at least be able to get his do his retirement flight.”
Captain Rob, who flew with United for 19 years, beamed with pride as he watched his son give the welcome announcements on the special flight from Portland to Chicago.
“It’s still hard for me to describe how proud I am of him,” Rob told People, choking up with emotion. “Watching him put together the welcome-aboard announcement, it really was just a fantastic moment for me.”
Daniel, who started flying for United eight years ago, said his goal now is to get to promoted to captain – just like his father.
