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Southwest captain admits his 'lip was quivering' during co-pilot daughter's surprise speech on final flight
By Max Bacall
Published June 28, 2026
A retiring Southwest Airlines captain’s final flight turned into a viral family moment when his daughter, serving as his first officer, surprised him with an emotional tribute that was posted to the airline's Instagram on June 21 in celebration of Father's Day.
Captain Jim Curtis retired after 22 years at Southwest Airlines, which was preceded by 21 years in the U.S. Air Force. In her speech honoring his long aviation career, his daughter, Julia Curtis, credited him with inspiring her to become a pilot and shaping her character throughout her life.
The father-daughter duo joined "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Sunday, where Jim admitted it wasn't easy to maintain his composure during the tribute.
DAD SURPRISED BY HIS 3 KIDS WITH FINAL FAMILY CARPOOL BEFORE RETIREMENT
Captain Jim Curtis said he and his daughter, Julia Curtis, who served as his first officer during the last flight before his retirement, discussed finding happiness in life while they were in the air. (iStock)
"I spent 30 years trying to have a stern profile. And people noticed my lip quivering, and so I was just lucky to be able to keep it together," he said.
The veteran said he was caught off guard by his daughter's remarks, describing the experience as "tremendous."
In the airline industry, a pilot's 65th birthday marks mandatory retirement and often a ceremonial final trip known as a fini-flight. Julia said she had long considered the possibility of accompanying her dad on the meaningful trip.
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A ramp agent directs a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 airplane into a gate at Baltimore-Washington Airport in Baltimore, Md., on April 12, 2024. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I grew up watching him go to work, and to actually have the opportunity to sit there with him and also get to tell my greatest mentor in life how much he means to me was truly special," she said.
Jim expressed excitement for his daughter's future following in his footsteps and said that he would be retiring to a family farm to grow walnuts with his wife.
Julia said her father’s lessons helped her reach this point in her career, especially those insights regarding the importance of mindset and work ethic.
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"The two things you can control are your attitude and your effort," Julia said.
"And he said, if you show up with a positive attitude and give a good effort with whatever you're doing, good things should follow."
https://www.foxnews.com/media/southwest-captain-admits-lip-quivering-co-pilot-daughters-surprise-speech-final-flight