An airline pilot has shocked his fiancee by proposing to her shortly before takeoff via his cockpit’s passenger announcement system.
In a video posted on social media, Ibrahim El Khatib – of Lebanese aviation enterprise Middle East Airlines – can be seen picking up the microphone in the cockpit with a broad smile on his face.
Ibrahim starts his extraordinary announcement by saying: “Dear passengers, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome a very special passenger on board today.
“Her name is Chirine El-Hajj Chehade. Could you please stand up?”
Another passenger captures the moment in the cabin.
His beautiful brunette fiancee – a designer at Lebanese upmarket fashion brand Elie Saab – can be seen covering her face with her hands in surprise and amazement.
Chirine then opens her safety belt and gets up.
Meanwhile, her fiance continues: “I would like to inform you in front of 245 passengers that I love you so much and I decided to continue with you for the rest of my life.”
As Chirine cries tears of joy, numerous passengers start to clap.
Ibrahim – nicknamed Bob by pals and colleagues – then pops the famous question: “Now I will ask you the famous question – will you marry me?”
While the pilot is getting himself ready to meet his wife-to-be in the aisle, Chirine already walks towards the cockpit.
Staff can be heard shouting “Yallah, Bob, yallah!” (Let’s go, Bob, let’s go!”).
Ibrahim puts on his uniform jacket before finally meeting Chirine in the cabin to the delight of the cheering passengers of whom many have stood up.
Before he puts a ring on her finger, Ibrahim gives Chirine a hug. They hug once more as the heartwarming footage ends.
Ibrahim told local media: “I haven’t done much planning. I improvised it and used the language of love.”
The pilot and the fashion designer have been dating for around nine months.
They reportedly met through the business networking platform Linkedin in October 2022.
Ibrahim said: “She was returning with her mother and sister on the same flight from Istanbul to Beirut.
“The whole thing took two minutes and it garnered lots of love, support and applause from passengers.”
Speaking about Chirine’s reaction, Ibrahim said: “She was very surprised and a little bit shy. Her hands shivered.”
Asked whether having a time-consuming job would make being in a relationship difficult, Ibrahim explained: “The most important thing is building a relationship based on a mutual understanding of the two partners’ lifestyles.
“Even though my work requires me to be away during weekends and holidays, I always commit time for my partner to maintain and strengthen our bond.”
Netizens were delighted by the clip which emerged on social media on 13th July.
‘Elaa.ghalayini’ said: “Oh, this is absolutely beautiful – congratulations!
‘Thuraya_alturj_nab’ commented: “You are both amazing.”
‘Spudslug’ quipped: “That’s one plane I’d be happy to be on.”
And ‘Pilot_ruthie’ claimed: “I think this is one of the best things I have ever seen.”
