30 Years of sacrifice: A mother's tears as her pilot son flies her home
An Ethiopian mother's 30 years of hard work as a domestic worker culminate in a heartwarming surprise as her son, now a pilot, flies her home.
Every mother dreams of seeing her child soar, but few get to witness it from a seat on a plane flown by their very own child.
In a moment that has touched hearts across the globe, an Ethiopian mother's decades of sacrifice came full circle when she stepped onto a plane, only to discover that her son, the child she had worked tirelessly for, was the pilot taking her home.
The woman, who spent 30 years working as a domestic worker in Lebanon, endured long hours and years away from her homeland, all to give her son the chance at a better future.
Like millions of mothers around the world, she gave up comfort, her own dreams, and even time with her child, driven by a singular, unwavering goal: to give him the life she never had.
That love was rewarded in the most beautiful way. As she boarded the Ethiopian Airlines flight back to her country, unaware of the surprise ahead, she was overcome with emotion upon realising that her son - now a fully-fledged pilot, was in the cockpit, ready to fly her home.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
8 minutes ago
- Arab News
Suspected drone strike kills child, injures five in Pakistan's South Waziristan
PESHAWAR: A suspected drone strike killed one child and injured five others in a remote village of Pakistan's South Waziristan district on Friday, triggering protests by local residents who demanded greater security and clarity from the authorities. The incident took place in the Dashka settlement near Makeen, a mountainous region that is part of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Local officials said the origin of the drone was still unknown, but the strike has renewed concerns following a similar attack last month in nearby North Waziristan that killed four children and sparked days of demonstrations. 'The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m.,' Abdul Qadir, a senior police officer in the district, told Arab News over the phone. 'The children, aged between four and 11, were immediately rushed to Razmak Hospital for emergency medical treatment.' Reacting to the development, Asif Khan Mehsud, a provincial lawmaker from the area, said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) had consistently opposed drone strikes on Pakistani soil, labeling them a gross violation of human rights. 'This reckless attack on innocent civilians must be investigated,' he added. Last month, a suspected quadcopter drone strike in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, killed four children and injured others, prompting mass protests and a statement from the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations. The military said it had carried out an investigation into the incident, denied involvement and blamed the attack on militant groups, while residents demanded accountability and security guarantees. On Friday, people in Makeen launched a protest sit-in, seeking protection rather than compensation, as local elders met with police and security officials to voice their outrage. 'We are not safe even in our own homes,' said Muhammad Jan, a tribal elder participating in the protest. 'What we demand is not money or charity. We want protection and peace.' He added that tribal elders would continue dialogue with local authorities to explore long-term security arrangements for the area. Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt has witnessed militant violence, military operations and US drone attacks in the past. While US-led international forces pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, the issue of militancy continues, prompting security forces to launch intelligence-based operations in these areas.
UAE Moments
9 minutes ago
- UAE Moments
UAE Arrests Wanted Moldovan in Corruption Case
The UAE has announced the arrest of Vitaliy Pirlog, a Moldovan national wanted in a major cross-border corruption case. According to the Ministry of Interior, Pirlog was detained on June 15 at the request of French authorities. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! Pirlog, who once served as chairman of Interpol's Commission for the Control of Files, is the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice. He faces serious charges, including forgery, bribery, solicitation, and fraud. The UAE Ministry of Interior confirmed the arrest on Thursday, June 19, highlighting that it was made in close coordination with international and regional law enforcement partners. French officials have since acknowledged the UAE's cooperation, noting that the move reinforces the importance of united global efforts to tackle cross-border crime. This is not the first time the UAE has played a key role in international arrests and extraditions. Just last month, the UAE extradited Sean McGovern, an alleged senior member of an Irish transnational gang, to Dublin. McGovern was arrested at his home in Dubai and later charged with murder and directing organised crime. He became the first person to be extradited from the UAE to Ireland. In February, the UAE extradited wanted French national Mehdi Charafa, who was facing drug-related charges in France. A month earlier, Abdul Rahman Al Qaradawi was taken into custody in the UAE based on a provisional arrest warrant from Lebanon. He faced charges of attempting to undermine public security. And last year, the UAE handed over a Filipino citizen accused of sexually exploiting more than 100 children back in the Philippines. The UAE continues to strengthen its international reputation as a key player in global law enforcement, working closely with other nations to crack down on fugitives and uphold justice beyond borders.
UAE Moments
9 minutes ago
- UAE Moments
Fresh Airline Updates on UAE Flights Amid Conflict
As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, UAE-based airlines have issued fresh updates on suspended or rescheduled flights. Several carriers, including Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai, are adjusting their schedules in response to regional airspace closures and safety concerns. Air Arabia Suspends More Routes Sharjah-based Air Arabia announced on Thursday that flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan will remain suspended until Monday, June 30. The airline also stated that services to and from Jordan are on hold until Friday, June 20. Air Arabia, which also operates out of Abu Dhabi, added that passengers transiting through Sharjah or Abu Dhabi with final destinations in any of the affected countries will not be accepted for travel from their point of origin until further notice. Etihad Reschedules Beirut Flights Etihad Airways confirmed updated schedules for its Beirut flights on June 21: EY581: Departs Abu Dhabi at 10 AM, arrives in Beirut at 1:10 PM EY582: Departs Beirut at 2:05 PM, arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7 PM EY583: Departs Abu Dhabi at 2 PM, arrives in Beirut at 5:05 PM EY584: Departs Beirut at 6 PM, arrives in Abu Dhabi at 10:55 PM Emirates Extends Suspensions Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates has extended the suspension of flights to Jordan (Amman) and Lebanon (Beirut) until Sunday, June 22, 2025. In addition, all Emirates flights to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra) will remain grounded until Monday, June 30, 2025. flydubai Suspends Several Destinations
