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Dutch King Flew Regional Flights for KLM in Secret for Over 20 Years

For decades, passengers boarding KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had no idea just how royal their flight truly was. Behind the cockpit door on select regional routes, the Netherlands’ own King Willem-Alexander was quietly clocking in as a commercial co-pilot, flying passengers in complete secrecy.

Long before ascending the throne in 2013, the king earned his pilot’s license in the 1980s and continued flying regularly even after becoming head of state. He primarily served as a co-pilot aboard the Fokker 70 for KLM Cityhopper, the airline’s regional subsidiary, operating short-haul European flights.

For years, travelers were unaware that one of the men guiding their aircraft through the skies was also the sitting monarch of the Netherlands. He introduced himself simply as “Willem-Alexander” and worked under the same strict training, safety, and certification requirements as every other KLM pilot.

To maintain his commercial license, the king typically flew around two flights per month, fitting the role quietly into his packed royal schedule. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he maintained his currency by transitioning to Boeing 737 simulator training, ensuring he remained professionally qualified even as commercial operations slowed worldwide.

In 2023, the king officially stepped away from flying revenue passengers after KLM retired its Fokker 70 fleet. Since then, he has frequently served as co-pilot aboard the PH-GOV, the Boeing 737 VIP jet used to transport the royal family, politicians, and foreign dignitaries.

Despite now reaching the mandatory retirement age of 58 for KLM pilots, King Willem-Alexander is not leaving aviation behind. According to the Government Information Service, confirmed to De Telegraaf, the monarch is now retraining from the Boeing 737 to the Airbus A321neo in order to continue flying with Royal Dutch Airlines in a non-commercial capacity.

#KLM #klmcityhopper #pilot by @thecrewlounge

Daddy!!!!

#daddy #aviationhumor #aviation #sugardaddy by @thecrewlounge

BREAKING: Lufthansa Cabin Crew Member Electrocuted While Swimming In Five-Star Hotel Pool In India, Another Flight Attendant Injured

A 57-year-old Lufthansa cabin crew member has died after allegedly being electrocuted while swimming in the rooftop pool of the five-star Conrad Bengaluru hotel in India. Another flight attendant was also injured.

The victim, identified as German national Alexander T., was staying at the Hilton-owned hotel during a scheduled crew layover after arriving from Germany.

According to German newspaper BILD, the tragedy unfolded on Friday, October 30, when the pool's underwater lighting was reportedly switched on, allegedly sending an electric current through the water.

Alexander suffered a fatal electric shock. Another Lufthansa crew member was injured while trying to escape the pool and was taken to hospital.

Two hotel employees were also reportedly injured. Indian media separately reported that a second foreign national also died, while two others were hurt during rescue attempts.

Lufthansa has confirmed Alexander's death and expressed its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Police are investigating possible negligence and how the pool became electrified. Alexander's wife has reportedly filed a complaint against the hotel management.

The swimming pool has since been closed for maintenance until November 30.

Our thoughts are with Alexander's loved ones, his Lufthansa colleagues and everyone affected by this tragedy.

Read the full story on A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge on Facebook.

Sources: BILD, NDTV, Manipal Hospitals, Lufthansa.

#Lufthansa #CabinCrew #FlightAttendant #AviationNews #crewlife by @thecrewlounge

Finally, we know who saved the day!

For almost a month, the spotlight surrounding the terrifying attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 focused on Captain Smit Machchhar, who suffered horrific head injuries but managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene.

Now, the identities of the two pilots who took control of the damaged aircraft and brought it safely to the ground have emerged.

They are Fijian Captain Henson Steven, a former Fiji Airways pilot, and South African First Officer Rowan Tooth, from Kimberley in the Northern Cape.

Both were travelling as deadheading pilots aboard the Boeing 737 MAX when the September 30 attack unfolded.

Following the cockpit confrontation, the aircraft reportedly plunged approximately 17,000 feet and sustained significant damage, including to its vertical tail rudder.

With the attacking co-pilot restrained, Steven and Tooth took control, stabilised the aircraft and diverted it to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

All 182 people aboard survived.

On October 27, both pilots were honoured alongside Captain Machchhar and other crew members, receiving the First Class Order of Zayed II for their extraordinary actions.

Their story deserves to be told. While Machchhar's courage helped make the intervention possible, Steven and Tooth's flying skills brought 182 people safely back to the ground.

Three pilots. Extraordinary courage. One shared mission: bringing everyone home safely.

United By Wings.

For the full story, visit A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge on Facebook.

#Flydubai #AviationHeroes #FlightSafety #Pilots #UnitedByWings by @thecrewlounge

The scars of a true hero.

Nearly a month after surviving a brutal mid-air cockpit attack, flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has made a public appearance, revealing extensive scars and surgical staples across the back of his head.

The images emerged on October 27, when Machchhar and fellow flydubai crew members received the First Class Order of Zayed II in the UAE for their actions during the September 30 attack.

According to reports, Machchhar was repeatedly struck with an emergency crash axe by his co-pilot aboard flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Despite suffering serious head injuries and losing significant amounts of blood, the captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and overpower the attacker.

Two additional flydubai pilots travelling aboard then took control and diverted the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Machchhar underwent emergency surgery, and the extent of his injuries has since attracted attention from medical professionals.

Neurosurgeon Dr Sanat Dixit shared an assessment of the visible injuries, suggesting the wounds may have involved a particularly dangerous area near a major blood vessel responsible for draining blood from the brain. He highlighted the considerable surgical challenges such an injury can present.

The precise extent of the internal damage has not been confirmed through a publicly available medical report.

The scars now visible across the captain's head are a sobering reminder of what happened thousands of feet above the ground and the extraordinary actions he took while seriously injured to help protect everyone aboard.

A remarkable act of courage by a captain who refused to give up.

For the full story, visit A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge on Facebook.

#Flydubai #SmitMachchhar #AviationNews #CabinCrew #FlightSafety UnitedByWings by @thecrewlounge

At 83, American Airlines' Most Senior Active Flight Attendant Is Ready To Hang Up Her Wings After 63 Years Of Flying

After 63½ years in the skies, Carol Fair is preparing for her final flight, closing an extraordinary chapter in aviation history.

As reported by The Charlotte Ledger on October 21, 2026, Fair began her career in 1963 with Piedmont Airlines, witnessing the transformation of commercial aviation across generations.

From an era of smaller aircraft and strict rules governing female flight attendants to today's modern airline industry, she has seen it all.

Her career spanned Piedmont, USAir, US Airways and American Airlines, eventually placing her at the top of American's flight attendant seniority list among approximately 30,000 cabin crew members.

One of her career highlights was working Piedmont's inaugural Charlotte-to-London service in 1987. Now, almost 40 years later, London features once again in her aviation story.

Fair's final flight is scheduled for October 26, 2026, aboard American Airlines Flight 733 from London to Charlotte, where a water salute is planned to welcome her home.

After more than six decades of welcoming passengers aboard, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy and a lifetime of memories.

For cabin crew everywhere, Carol's story is a reminder that this profession is about more than flying. It is about the people we meet, the history we witness and the connections we make along the way.

As Carol prepares to hang up her wings, let's show her how far her legacy reaches!

Leave your retirement wishes in the comments and tell us where in the world you're sending them from.

#AFlyGuy #CabinCrew #FlightAttendant #AviationHistory #AmericanAirlines by @thecrewlounge

A SOUTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANT GETS PRANKED!

Southwest flight attendant Erica Moore was on her first flights when a senior crew member told her she needed to collect an “air sample” for the pilots. Armed with gloves and a trash bag, Erica took the assignment seriously, unaware she was falling for one of aviation’s classic cabin crew pranks. The video has now surpassed 9 million views!

As a Fly Guy, I can tell you that these practical jokes have long been part of cabin crew culture. For many, they’re almost a rite of passage for new joiners, from collecting air samples to being sent off in search of the keys to start the aircraft.

CABIN CREW, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

What happened when YOU were the new joiner? Did you fall for a classic prank, or were you the one playing tricks on the newbies?

Share your stories in the comments. Let’s see which airline has the most legendary cabin crew initiation stories!

United By Wings

Sources: Instagram

#SouthwestAirlines #FlightAttendant #CabinCrew #CrewLife #AviationHumor by @thecrewlounge

PIA Brings Back Glamour With New Designer Uniforms

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is turning to high fashion to refresh its international image, unveiling a new cabin crew uniform collection designed by celebrated Pakistani fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, known as HSY.

The collection was revealed on October 22 and will make its first appearance on October 31 aboard PIA’s inaugural Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight from London to Islamabad.

HSY was chosen following a competition in Karachi involving 10 prominent Pakistani fashion designers. The judging panel brought together leading figures from the country’s fashion, retail and beauty industries, alongside the head of Pakistan’s leading fashion and design institute and an experienced PIA aviation professional.

The new uniforms have been designed to combine contemporary style with the practical demands of cabin crew duties, featuring breathable fabrics, tailored silhouettes and greater freedom of movement for long-haul flights. The collection also draws inspiration from Pakistani craftsmanship and cultural identity.

Fashion has long played a role in PIA’s history. In 1966, legendary French designer Pierre Cardin created the airline’s distinctive A-line tunic and hood, while British royal couturier Sir Hardy Amies contributed designs in the 1970s. Pakistani designer Nomi Ansari later shaped the airline’s cabin crew look for 12 years.

HSY now joins that legacy as PIA pursues a wider transformation involving fleet modernisation, expanded international services and efforts to rebuild passenger confidence.

The new uniforms represent more than a change of wardrobe. For an airline once recognised for its distinctive style, they are an attempt to reconnect its heritage with a more modern identity.

So what do you think of PIA's new uniform?

Sources: Gulf News

#PIA #PakistanInternationalAirlines #CabinCrew #FlightAttendants #Pakistan by @thecrewlounge

Australian influencer Hugh Lovett has been banned from flying with both Qantas and Jetstar after inflating his life jacket during a safety briefing on a Jetstar flight from Sydney to Adelaide, filming the stunt for social media and posting the video with the caption: “Apparently your not supposed to copy them!”

Lovett, who creates content with his brothers, admitted he had ignored instructions not to tamper with the safety equipment. The stunt caught the attention of fellow passengers, and after landing in Adelaide, the pilot directed him to police. Australian Federal Police confirmed officers spoke to a passenger following the incident.

Jetstar confirmed the ban, stressing that it has zero tolerance for behaviour that puts passengers and crew at risk. The duration of the ban has not been confirmed.

Online reactions have been divided. Some argued the ban was worth the stunt, accusing the airline of overreacting, while others criticised Lovett for risking his ability to fly just for social media engagement.

One comment summed up the backlash: “Can you imagine being black listed from flying for 2000 likes.”

With Qantas Group controlling more than half of Australia's domestic air travel, the consequences could be significant. What may have seemed like a joke for online attention has turned into a costly lesson about taking aircraft safety procedures seriously.

Photos: Instagram @hughlovett

#AviationNews #Qantas #Jetstar #AirlineSafety #passengershaming by @thecrewlounge

Love a good adult tantrum - Passenger Cries For THREE Hours After Woman Refuses To Give Up Aisle Seat So She Can Cuddle Her Husband On 10-Hour-Flight from Istanbul

A passenger reportedly cried for three hours on a 10-hour flight after travel blogger Tomiko Harvey refused to swap her aisle seat so the woman could sit next to her husband.

Harvey shared the encounter on Instagram, explaining that she was flying from Istanbul to Washington, D.C., after travelling home from Kazakhstan following her father’s death.

According to Harvey, the woman wanted her to move to a middle seat so she could rest her head on her husband’s shoulder. However, her husband was seated two rows ahead, reportedly sleeping throughout the flight.

Harvey said the woman continued crying for three hours after she declined the request. When they landed, she sarcastically congratulated the passenger on “surviving” 10 hours without her husband.

The story has sparked debate online about seat-swapping etiquette, with many commenters arguing that passengers who want to sit together should book their seats accordingly rather than expect strangers to give up their assigned places.

Would you give up your aisle seat in this situation?

Follow @tomiko.harvey on Instagram for the original video.

Sources: New York Post, Instagram/@tomiko.harvey

#AFlyGuy #CabinCrewLounge #AviationNews #AirlinePassengers #TravelStories by @thecrewlounge

The death of 50-year-old Southwest Airlines flight attendant Jenny Lupton has been ruled a suicide nearly two months after she was found dead in a dumpster at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Jenny’s family is rejecting the findings and demanding a transparent investigation, raising concerns about her phone, DNA evidence, hotel security footage and the circumstances of the reported fall from her 24th-floor room.

Her sister, Tresa DiAnn Lupton, says the family was told the medical examiner had not received certain information that could potentially warrant reconsideration of the ruling. Honolulu police have confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.

Jenny’s relative, Elise Lupton, has also questioned the ruling, pointing to Jenny’s plans, recent activities and the circumstances surrounding her death. The family is calling for every piece of evidence to be examined and all unanswered questions addressed.

The family’s concerns have not established that a crime occurred, and the official manner of death remains suicide.

Jenny’s loved ones say they will continue demanding answers until they feel her death has been fully investigated.

For the full story, visit A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge on Facebook.

#JUSTICEFORJENNY #jennylupton #southwestairlines #crewlife #aviation by @thecrewlounge

Be Nice To Your Flight Attendant; She Might Be Your Queen One Day! 👑✈️

From cabin crew to Queen of Thailand, commercial pilot, and fighter jet pilot, Queen Suthida’s aviation journey is truly extraordinary.

Born Suthida Tidjai, she began her airline career with JALways in 2000 before joining Thai Airways in 2003. During her time in commercial aviation, she worked as a flight attendant and later advanced to become a senior purser.

In 2010, she began flight training with the Royal Thai Air Force. She eventually earned her commercial pilot licence and Boeing 737 type rating, adding military aviation to an already remarkable career.

Her aviation experience has included flying Thailand’s royal Boeing 737-800 and serving as a pilot for the Royal Thai Air Force. This month she made history, becoming the first queen to pilot a fighter jet solo.

On October 14, she reportedly piloted Thailand’s royal Boeing 737-800 to Japan for he official visit, highlighting her continuing role in the country’s royal and aviation affairs.

From serving passengers in the cabin to taking the controls of a commercial aircraft and fighter jet, Queen Suthida’s journey is one of aviation’s most remarkable career stories, and an inspiring example of how far a career in aviation can take you.

📖 Read The Full Story On A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge On Facebook!

#QueenSuthida #Aviation #FlightAttendant #WomenInAviation #UnitedByWings by @thecrewlounge