Race to birth: dad trapped on tarmac at ALB
So close, but so far: Fidgeting with a little teddy bear while trapped on the tarmac after landing at ALB in last night’s storm, a soon-to-be dad tears at the heartstrings.
ALBANY, NY — Last night’s storm left hundreds stranded at Albany International Airport last night — and not just those stuck because of flight delays.
About 150 of us sat on the tarmac after arriving, glumly watching the snow build up for hours on the wings of the plane. So close, but so far. We were at the airport — our airport — but were trapped. And as we waited, the story of the man in the blue beanie about did us all in.
The set-up: Our flight from Denver was delayed one crucial hour, meaning we wouldn’t beat the start of the snow as planned.
The plane took off anyway.
Meanwhile, as we flew over the barely-snowcapped Rockies (it was 60 and sunny in Denver) and toward the Empire State, three planes were desperately trying to leave Albany. But the de-icing couldn’t keep up with the snowfall, meaning multiple trips back to the gate. And then they ran out of de-icing fluid.
So when we landed, all the gates were full.
No air, babies crying, no info, a man in a blue beanie pacing.
The snack cabinets were finally raided. The Southwest flight attendants told their corny jokes. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Evan, who was turning 7. I finished my book. Josh in the blue beanie nervously played with the little teddy bear in his hands until I thought it would tear apart.
Finally, some news! A plane had given up and de-planed its passengers so we could have the gate. We had been on the ground almost as long as we’d been in the air.
“We have a gentleman here in the back of the airplane,” said the pilot, when he came on to address the antsy crowd. “He is about to be a new father and is very desperately looking forward to getting to the hospital, where his child is about to be born. So, when we get to the gate, if we could let Josh make it to the front of the airplane quickly and safely…I’m sure he and his future child would really appreciate that — and the mom, who is already at the hospital waiting.”
Josh’s seat was in the very last row of the airplane. When we pulled up to the gate, after hours of sitting, we all dutifully watched this poor guy as he nervously tried to escape.
You see, this endearing dad-to-be was not all that interested in being our hero. But there he was — with 150 or so pairs of eyes on him — awkwardly looking through the overhead bins for his backpack before muttering, “You know what — I don’t need it.” The crowd clapped and cheered, “Right answer!”
We all know that he wasn’t then helicoptered right to the hospital; everything took forever in that snow last night. But the cinematic story of our holiday-era, Upstate New York winter story is complete. Josh, I hope you made it in time, buddy. Warmest congratulations.
There will be a special — but abbreviated — edition of Dish tomorrow. Our regular schedule resumes after the holidays. Savor the snow, Dispatchers! See you out there.
Great story!