Captain Ronald Smith was wrapping up his career after 32 years in the sky. His final flight with United Airlines took him from Chicago to Brussels in 2017.
Retirement flights are always emotional, but this one turned out to be unforgettable for a different reason. A student choir from Luxembourg just happened to be on the plane, and they decided to do something special.
The group was from Lycée des Garçons d’Esch-sur-Alzette. When they found out it was Captain Smith’s last flight, they quietly put together a plan to surprise him once they landed.
After the plane touched down, the students waited until all the passengers had gotten off. Then, when Captain Smith stepped out of the cockpit, they started singing.
They chose “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay and performed it acappella right there in the cabin. One of the students, Nicolas, filmed the whole thing and their voices filled the plane.
Captain Smith was clearly moved. He said: “Wow. Thank you so much! That was amazing.” They didn’t know it, but Coldplay was one of his favorites.
Watch the emotional moment in this video: