GREENSBORO, N.C. — A special sendoff for a pilot, who persevered through tragedy.
Phil Bradshaw is gearing up for his final flight. WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman talked to him, before his final journey.
When Phil lost his wife, Sandy Bradshaw, to the 9/11 attacks over two decades ago, he pressed pause on his flying career.
Just two years ago, he found himself back in the cockpit. Now, he is getting ready to touchdown one last time as he retires for good.
September 11, 2001 changed Phil's life forever, "it's… it's sad…" Phil said with tears in his eyes.
That is the day he lost his wife, Sandy, in a 9/11 attack. She was a flight attendant on the United Airlines Flight 93 when it crashed in Pennsylvania.
"To me..." Phil takes a moment to gather himself, "it still feels like yesterday… you know, not 23 years later."
He was actually pilot at the time of the attacks but that all changed.
"The last thing she said to me was, 'raise the kids right' and so, I put my career aside," Phil said.
He took a 20 year hiatus from flying commercially so he could fulfill Sandy's wish of raising their children. He said he couldn't do it alone though, with the help of friends, family, he said he doesn't know where he would be.
In 2022, Phil found himself back in action, flying a Boeing Triple 7 out of Charlotte, "it is like riding a bike, I mean, you can take time off and still come back and do it again." Phil said.
Fast forward to November 2024, Phil is set to make his last flight, spending Thanksgiving in Munich, flying back to Charlotte, and celebrating his 18 year long career.
"Yeah, it's gonna be an emotional day for me. I mean, I'll be thinking about everything and hope I make a good landing," Phil said jokingly.
As for what's next? He said well first things first, he's got to take care of a few things around the house, but what he's really looking forward to, is playing more golf.