Delta flight attendant Floyd Dean-Shannon comforted a passenger during a turbulent flight on January 14, 2023 from Charlotte to JFK. Dean-Shannon sat down in the aisle, held the passenger’s hand, and remained with her for the rest of the flight, explaining every turbulence. Another passenger captured the moment and shared it on Facebook, where it quickly went viral. The photo of this act of kindness has since soothed other nervous flyers. The airline states that Dean-Shannon has been a flight attendant for three months. “As a flight attendant, you set the tone,” said Dean-Shannon. “As a passenger, I would want to be treated the same way. I have to remember, I was in that seat too.” The passenger and Dean-Shannon have since become Facebook friends.

It has not been an easy time for flight attendants with staffing shortages, flight delays, and cancellations. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union’s president stated that this has been “the most trying time in our entire history of our careers”. Flight attendants are facing issues with unruly passengers, who have resisted federal mask mandates, and a decrease in pay due to cancelled flights. Some airlines have offered pay bumps or incentives to alleviate labor shortages. The median salary for flight attendants in the US is $62,280 but can vary based on the airline and experience.

Delta officially started paying flight attendants during the boarding process in June, while other airlines like United and Spirit have offered temporary pay bumps to flight attendants and pilots. On Thursday, CNN reported on the moment, and the act of kindness spread further.