Believe it or not, this is a news story about airlines that doesn’t make you want to roll up into the fetal position or carve your own spleen out.

The Consumerist reports that a Southwest Airline pilot refused to take off so that a man racing to his grandson’s funeral could make it on the flight. (The passenger’s grandson had just been murdered by his daughter’s live-in boyfriend.) Despite his arrival at the airport two hours early for his domestic flight, the TSA staff showed no sympathy for the man’s desperation. Once through security, he ran barefoot to the gate and arrived 12 minutes late.

This is the point where most airline stories spiral into pleading, crying, and rage. In this case, the man was greeted by the pilot himself, who said this:

Are you Mark? We held the plane for you and we’re so sorry about the loss of your grandson. They can’t go anywhere without me and I wasn’t going anywhere without you. Now relax. We’ll get you there. And again, I’m so sorry.

Doesn’t quite balance the scales against this holiday’s groping extravaganza. But it’s a pretty good start.

Image xSeXiiLiLmAmiix1/Photobucket

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