As the world mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in the history of the UK, I want to turn to a video from a British Airways flight that so poignantly captures how the nation is processing her loss.
British Airways Captain Somberly Announces Death Of Queen Elizabeth Onboard Flight
There are certain events we will always remember in our lifetime. I’ll always remember where I was when the U.S. Supreme Court handed the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush. When 9/11 occurred. During Colin Powell’s speech to the United Nation attempting to justify the war in Iraq. When the levees failed during Hurricane Katrina. The nights Barack Obama (2008) and Donald Trump (2016) became the president-elect. The days that Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg died.
For my parents’ generations, those memorable events include the Kennedy Assassination, moon landing, the day Walter Cronkite condemned the Vietnam War, Challenger explosion, fall of the Berlin Wall, and death of Princess Diana.
And now I have a new memory that will forever be seared in my memory: the moment Queen Elizabeth II died as I was stepping into my car to drive to the gym this morning in Los Angeles.
Some were on airplanes when this occurred and a poignant video captured onboard a British Airways flight summarizes the grief that many are feeling over the death of Her Majesty.
Surreal to be on a British Airways flight to London today and the pilot announced the passing of the Queen…listen closely 🔊#QueenElizabeth pic.twitter.com/Nz1cvPHBbS
— Michael Capiraso (@mcapiraso) September 9, 2022
Notice the flight attendant crying, a touching reaction to the passing of a monarch who reigned far longer than she had been alive.
Some people still try to unplug on airplanes, and I do this too occasionally. It’s therapeutic and I hate it when pilots will announce sports scores from the flight deck. But this is different. This is somehow fitting. This is the sort of news that cannot be tuned out, especially when it concerns her subjects.
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If you’re a regular reader of the blog, you know that I was an ardent admirer of the Queen and as the United Kingdom embarks upon 10 days of mourning with a speech from King Charles III to the nation later today, we will be covering the Queen’s life and death from many different angles in the days to come.
image: British Airways
I’m confused as to why this is tagged as a Breeze Airways related article.
One below British Airways on my checklist. My bad.
I was on a United flight from LAX to NRT in 1997 when the pilot announced the death of Princess Diana. Similar announcement though more shocking because of the circumstances, whereas sad as this is, the Queen was, after all, 96 and known to be in failing health.
Why? Who cares?
I’m not even British and I care ! She’s been around my whole life and have followed everything about her. If nothing else she’s been the leader of a nation one that we work with and fight in wars with. Be respectful of that and don’t say who cares. MILLIONS CARE! That shouldn’t have to be explained.
A bit melodramatic. I don’t think most people concur that this will be “forever seared” in their memory. Sorry, but her death is no 9/11 or Challenger explosion. The moments you compare require shock – while sad, the Queen was 96 and in deteriorating health. But shocking?
Agreed. I’m not British (well, I’m from one of the colonies, so formerly so, I guess) but I don’t understand the weeping and pearl-clutching over a largely symbolic figurehead whose sole purpose for decades has been simply to siphon money from taxpayers in a country that already has a spotty reputation around the world for centuries of colonization. As another commenter mentioned, Princess Di was an edge case for being tragic and shrouded in fuckery. While I wish nobody ill, you don’t see Canadians wailing in the street when the king/queen/PM dies, or Americans when a president passes (aside from JFK, I guess), especially when it’s very much expected given age/health. Seems so weird to tie such an identity to a person, nay a family, that really does nothing of value for a country and who lived a very, very long, comfortable life. Sad? Sure. Throwing oneself on the ground in a torrent of tears at the gates of Buckingham Palace worthy? That’s a bit much. But expect media outlets to squeeze every cent out of this for the next several weeks much to a universal eyeroll.
I agree it’s not a reasonable comparison to black swan kind of events like a bad accident or attack.
However, regarding the reaction to presidents…
When President Reagan passed away there were hundreds of thousands on the streets for his processions in California and DC.
This seems similar in that it was not a surprise, nor particularly tragic – both had long lives – but were mourned by many who don’t have interest in the day to day of their particular roles, with lots of media coverage, while others scratch their heads in bemusement.
That said saying you remember the moment of the announcement on the level of JFK or 9/11 is melodramatic. I mourned Reagan but couldn’t tell you where I was when I found out. I remember the outpouring during the processions and the moments of the funeral.
Your second sentence contains the key explanation: (a) you’re not British, and (b) you don’t understand. The British monarch’s presence is everywhere you turn in Great Britain, and multiple generations of Britons have known no monarch other than Elizabeth II. Ask a Brit if they think it’s strange to say “King Charles” – other than a die-hard antiroyalist, they’ll say “yes.”
Putting everything aside, The Monarchy and all that it entails brings in 10 Billion a year in tourism profits (not revenue which is even more). Britain would not have number of people visiting without the overhang of the Royal Family. Whatever money is paid out to the King/Queen (45 million USD a year) it is paid back many times over to the benefit of everyone.
This exactly. The ‘monarchy economy’ is massive and anyone who has walked around London on any given day could see this from the thralls of crowds around Buckingham, Horse Guards, Kensington etc. Go beyond to include the Royal Warrants a business may get, halo effect a business may get from a member wearing their clothes/using their services, or from their living situations nearby boosting tourism (see Anglesey, Wales). Factor the charitable work. All very lost on the British Republican movement and money well spent no matter thoughts on the sensibility of the institution in today’s age.
I was on BA to IAD yesterday when the news came in. We were still on the ground however and clearly most everyone knew. People were glued to their phones even more than usual. Prior to pushing back the Captain made an announcement, very short and simple to announce that the Queen had passed. I could tell he was fumbling for words and how to phrase it so it was a simple statement. The passengers and crew were oddly silent for some time. Nothing else was said and I never witnessed any strong emotions from anyone. However, during the taxi, I will remember a beautiful rainbow framing the area outside of Heathrow. It was quite the sight given the timing.
The town crier routine is tired. The plane is 40 minutes from landing. Every person who wants to know this information will know it before reaching the gate– if not sooner– even without the pilot’s announcement.
If anything conveying information like this, in this way appears to actually be irresponsible. I wouldn’t have predicted that this information would cause flight attendants to lose their composure, but clearly it does. If we are to believe that the flight attendants are there to provide a vital safety role, then incapacitating them with emotional information mid-flight isn’t the right thing to do.
As a Brit I know that it is very hard for many people to understand what the Queen represented to the British people. Indeed, there are many in this island who aren’t moved, but for the vast majority this women has been a reassuring constant in their lives; for many, their entire lives.
She was the personification of the state and represented a moral authority above that of politicians. She was, essentially, everyone’s grandmother too. She showed that there are many ways to give your life for your country.
It’s easy to be jaded but don’t disparage those who had genuine feelings for Elizabeth. We won’t see her like again.
This. 100% this.
Agree completely. She represented all that Britain was, and held the country together from the buffoons in parliament and in her family. Now we are headed into bankruptcy and further mediocrity. No wonder the nation is mourning. We are mourning not for her, but for the passing of our country into oblivion.
Absolutely
HM Queen Elizabeth II: A Life In Flight: A nice link from another Air Travel website
https://londonairtravel.com/2022/09/08/queen-elizabeth-ii/#more-38922
A 96 year old figurehead who lived off taxpayer largess most of her life, passes away (not unexpectedly) peacefully with her family by her side and an entire nation loses its mind…i don’t get it.
Thanksgiving. Big difference from losing your mind.
This is one of the misconceptions about the Crown. The monarch gives up a large amount of income from the Crown Estate in exchange for a payment from the Civil List. By all means let’s reverse that and allow the King to have all the income from all the Estates the Crown has – he’ll be filthy rich.
“The Supreme COurt handed the 2020 election to George W Bush??” Really are you serious,,Just becasue a few Democrat voters in SOuth Florida could not figure out how to use the voting cards and punched too many holes??? causing the ballots to be illegal///
As a Canadian Citizen, the passing of Queen Elizabeth is sad for me. She represented England and British Territories. A part of our Heritage has passed away. Consider someone you know and hold near in your heart, even though there is no emotional connection.