A pilot has found a note left in the cockpit of a plane before a ‘two-week lockdown’ that completely captures the mood of March 2020.
The note was left by captain Chris Dennis when he parked his Delta Airlines plane, number 3009, at Victorville Airport in California right at the height of pandemic uncertainty, and wrote a note that he left on the plane.
In the note, the pilot talks about how there must be light at the end of the tunnel for someone to be taking the plane out of storage again – but at the time a two-week lockdown was all that had been mentioned.
But the note wasn’t discovered for another 435 days when another pilot from Delta went to ‘wake’ the plane for service – and now the airline has shared the note on Facebook – adding that they won’t be taking open runways for granted any time soon.
(Image: Facebook)
The original note read: “Hey pilots—It’s March 23rd and we just arrived from MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul). Very chilling to see so much of our fleet here in the desert.
“If you are here to pick it up then the light must be at the end of the tunnel. Amazing how fast it changed. Have a safe flight bringing it out of storage!”
Sharing the note on Facebook, a spokesperson for Delta Airlines said: “435 days ago, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced thousands of canceled flights and a world of uncertainty, First Officer Chris D. parked Delta ship 3009 at the Victorville airport in the California desert.
“Taking off from MSP, he heard talks of a two-week lockdown. Feeling the weight of the moment, he penned a note for the pilot that would do the return to service flight and left it on the parked plane.
“Fast forward more than a year later to First Officer Nick P. landing at VCV and starting on his checklist to wake up ship 3009. One thing he didn’t expect to find was Chris’ letter, tucked away on a tray table in the flight deck.
“Those 57 words, which captured so much of the uncertainty and emotion we all felt in March 2020, underscored the gravity of the trip, and how optimistic he now feels about the direction we’re heading in. Ship 3009 is now prepared to take the skies once again.
“While the world certainly has changed over the past year, one thing is for certain: we won’t be taking that open runway for granted anytime soon.”
The post has since gone viral with around 10,000 likes and scores of comments, with many people agreeing that March 2020 was an uncertain time.
Brett Pohlman said: “Goosebumps for sure. Seeing so many Delta planes in storage at BHM was a constant reminder of the world we live in.
“After flying with Delta last week and weekend, I’m so glad to see that many of those planes have been brought back into service. Airports are busy again. Such a great sight!
While Jordan Beck Wagner added: “This really does sum up how we all felt and the uncertainty of March 2020. I got chills reading this note. Safe flying, First Officer Nick P.”
And Molly Stafford Hook wrote: “Awesome. Yes, now I do recall they were saying maybe a lockdown ‘for a few weeks’. After over 3 months we started sticking our heads out the door cautiously here in Indiana!
“I hope I’m on one of your planes in the near future!”
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