Summary
- A Denver-based United Airlines pilot cut his vacation with his family short to help fly hundreds of people back to the mainland amid the Maui wildfires.
- The pilot and his family spent the night in the airport along with other travelers as flights became delayed or canceled.
- The airline has played a crucial role in evacuating over 10,000 people from the island and has provided support to residents on the ground.
Several airlines have responded to the devastation from the deadly wildfires in Maui by adding flights, allowing travel waivers, and scheduling rescue flights with critical supplies. Flight crews have been spread thin amid the rush to carry visitors and residents off the island.
One of United Airlines' management pilots vacationing with his family volunteered to help with the rescue efforts by flying hundreds of people back to the mainland on a plane that reportedly could not have left had he not stepped in. The captain, Vince Eckelkamp, from Denver, Colorado, said he was glad to do anything he could do to help out.
Leaving early
According to Denver NBC affiliate 9NEWS, Vince, his wife Kathy, and daughter Kallie were visiting the island, but their trip was cut short by storms first and then the outbreak of the wildfires.
The family reportedly woke up early Tuesday morning at around 3:00, noticing the power had gone out. With the extreme winds sounding like a freight train running through their hotel room, they decided to head to the airport early. After getting through traffic and detours, they reached the airport, but their flight kept getting delayed.
Vince said the flight crew supposed to operate their flight were staying in Lahaina or Kaanapali but believed the situation got worse around the time the crew had to get on the bus to the airport. Without flight attendants, the flight was canceled, and the airport began to fill up with other stranded travelers.
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Ready and available
Flying planes for more than three decades, Vince spends most of his days as a Line Training Manager for the Boeing 777, but still picks up at least one flight a month, according to 9NEWS. After seeing the flight delays rack up and the trouble crews encountered getting to and from the airport, he offered to help.
"I knew the line check pilot and I texted him and said, 'Hey, I'm available to augment you if you'd like. The crew desk didn’t need me initially."
Following a sleepless night in the airport for Vince and his family, United's crew desk called him the next day.
"They knew I was available because I'd offered to augment, and asked me if I could fly. And I said of course, anything I can do to help out," the pilot said to 9NEWS.
Shortly after 20:00 that evening, Vince helped pilot an aircraft to the mainland with more than 300 people onboard. However, he was not exactly dressed for the part.
"They knew I was available because I'd offered to augment, and asked me if I could fly. And I said of course, anything I can do to help out. But here I am in a polo shirt, shorts and tennis shoes flying the airplane back. And I was really comfortable!"
Vince's wife and daughter were also on the flight, making the occasion even more special.
"Seeing my dad be able to take care of these people and take them back to their homes or back to somewhere else where they're safer meant a lot to me," his daughter Kallie said. According to 9NEWS, the flight could not have departed if Vince had not jumped in to help.
"My part in it was so small"
Back home safe in Denver, the family said they are happy to be home but are heartbroken knowing of all the destruction and devastation they left behind in Maui.
"I just feel like I'm such a small piece of such a huge puzzle," Vince said. "And there's just so much that Maui needs right now and my part in it was so small and I'm so glad I was able to do it."
United Airlines has reportedly carried over 10,000 people off the island since the wildfires broke out. Additionally, the carrier has helped transport first responders from non-profit organizations to assist residents on the ground.
Source: 9NEWS