Holly Dean

[Robert Sterling @RobertMSterling]

I just had the craziest experience at the airport.

We are about to board a flight to Atlanta when the pilot from the incoming plane walks out of the jetway. Guy is probably late 50s, salt and pepper hair, military look. The kind of pilot you instantly feel good about seeing on your flight.

Pilot walks over to the counter, gets on the PA system, and starts addressing everyone. “Folks, I’ve been doing this a long time. Flying one of these jets is easy. The hard part is looking at 130 people and telling them their flight is going to be delayed.”

Audible groans throughout the boarding gate. Most people here are flying to Atlanta as a layover before another flight. 130 people just had their day become a complete mess.

The pilot goes on. “I get it, trust me. But here’s the deal: During our landing, we had a small mechanical issue. I’m not your pilot for the next leg, but I don’t feel confident the jet’s safe to fly until we have a mechanical team look it over, and I don’t feel comfortable asking the next pilots to fly you guys until we get confirmation.”

He points at the agents next to him behind the counter: “Now, none of this is the agents’ fault. Please be kind to them. I’m the one who made this decision, not them, so any inconvenience you experience is my fault. Just please know that I don’t do this lightly, and I’m only doing it because I believe it’s in the best interests of everyone’s safety.”

Now this is where the story gets crazy. The pilot puts the microphone down, grabs his suitcase, and all the people in the gate…

Start clapping.

I’m not joking, everyone starts clapping for the guy. 130 people who just had their travel plans ruined give an ovation to the guy who made the decision and delivered the message.

All because he addressed them with decency and transparency, took ownership of the decision, made it clear that it was necessary, and explained why it was in everyone’s best interest.

It’s honestly one of the best examples of strong communication—of strong leadership, for that matter—that I’ve seen in a long time.

@Delta, whoever your Atlanta to Wichita pilot was this morning, he’s one of the good ones. Please tell him the delayed passengers of flight 1637 appreciate what he did.

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@wildrosekennels What a handsome boy! I’m so very sorry!

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@CrazyVibes_1 Perfection!!!

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

👀

[Brad Logan @BradLoganTOC]

📍⁦@wildrosekennels⁩

🎙️ Coming Soon

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@Lane_Kiffin @LSUfootball He looks miserable! Poor thing!

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@TopTierOleMiss @GregSankey Apparently not.

[Massimo @Rainmaker1973]

Xiaoma, a polyglot, was invited to give a speech at a high school for Language Week, and he delivered the entire speech in Gen Alpha slang.

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

Poor Lane 😏

[Ohio’s Tate @OhioTate]

A monumental shift in momentum:

Lane Kiffin just texted Mintzy that he is upset Mintzy never told him he’d be on camera.

“A shitty thing to do”

Danny Boy Cane believes this may be bad juju for Ole Miss.

[Ole Miss @OleMiss]

America's Team‼️

This is #HottyToddy

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@BradLoganCOTE Madison, MS

[Left Field Mask @LeftFieldMask]

Text one of my boys just got ☠️😂

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

The “potential Tigers” look uninterested.

[Brie @briannaandras]

Lane Kiffin sitting courtside tonight at the #LSU basketball game with Whit Weeks and potential Tigers, QB Sam Leavitt & WR Eugene Wilson. @WBRZ

Shout out to our intern @GiaPicarella for getting the shot!

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@OMRebelNation This gives me chills! Hotty Toddy!

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

@trimieshajoyner @LetsGo_Bo5 Following 🤭

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

It’s just different…

[Rebel Viewpoint @Rebel_Viewpoint]

Meanwhile LSU with no portal commits 😭😭😭��

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

Exactly! It’s not rocket science!

[College Sports on SiriusXM @SXMCollege]

With reports emerging that Lane Kiffin is trying to get some assistant coaches back from Ole Miss to host portal prospects at LSU, @ESPN_Schick wonders how Kiffin was ever going to coach the Rebels in the CFP.

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

I love going to bowl games! Take the trip & make the memories! Last night was the best yet!!! Hotty Toddy!

[Aaron Torres @Aaron_Torres]

Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to go to a school that has a chance to win championships... giving up on a team that can.... *checks notes* win the championship.

1) Kiffin is a total clown
2) Don't know how you can't be rooting for Ole Miss to win it all at this point

[Holly Dean @H_Dean_2016]

Let’s go to Arizona!