Southwest Airlines captain Jim Curtis marked his retirement this week with an especially emotional final commercial flight, from Las Vegas to Oakland, California, on his 65th birthday, the age at which airline pilots must retire under international aviation rules. Waiting in the cockpit with him was his daughter Julia, who serves as a first officer for the same airline.
For Father’s Day, Southwest released a video from the trip and called it “a special farewell to a special father,” saying Curtis got to fly his last trip alongside his favorite first officer, his daughter. Before takeoff, Julia told passengers it was a “very special flight” and said her father had flown for 43 years, including 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and 22 years at Southwest, logging more than 18,000 flight hours.
Julia said Curtis had been her mentor throughout her life and the person who inspired her to become a pilot. She said he taught her not only to fly, but also “to walk, talk, ride a bike, drive a car,” and, above all, to act with humility, kindness and integrity. Only after that did she reveal their family connection to the passengers.
Julia recently joined Southwest through the Destination 225° training program and has worked at the airline for only about four months. She called the chance to fly with her father on his retirement day a “dream come true,” joking, “It’s a little scary to fly with an old man, but he knows the way really well.” Curtis joked back about a running family dispute over her staying on his phone plan, and when passengers booed at the idea of her switching to her own account, he laughed and said, “Well, looks like she’ll stay there for life.” Near the end, Curtis became emotional and said, “It was a great career,” adding that he knows what the profession gave him and believes it will give his daughter the same.
