WELCOME ABOARD!
Fasten your seatbelts Ladies and Gentlemen!
I was given the most amazing opportunity to photograph one of Alaska Airlines’ most beloved pilot’s final flight, before taking his official retirement ….. Captain Michel Swanigan.
If we had a “Hall of Fame” at work — Captain “Swani” would be at the TOP !
He is loved by all of us at work, he makes everyone in his presence feel important, and that is such a unique gift.
He spent 36 years flying for Alaska Airlines.
He was also featured in the company’s recent TV commercials, featuring Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson.
He is an inspirational speaker and actor in addition to being a pilot.
I was thrilled to be asked to document his last working commercial flight.
I arrived at the airport early to capture the behind-the-scenes excitement. I donned my ramp vest, headed down the the tarmac to shoot photos of the plane coming in, the firetruck water ceremony, and to my complete surprise up walked Russell Wilson! They have a special friendship and Russell came to see him off !
I managed to shoot some incredible images along with the local news channel and other media crew on site.
I then headed up the jetway into the airplane and captured some real emotional moments with Captain Swani and his flight crew as they debriefed. It was, in fact, his flight attendant crew that was behind all of the special surprises on that day. Well done, ladies!
I came home and thought to myself – how best can I share these images? What could Capt. Swani and his family walk away with from my photos that was most special?
DING DING! (airplane call light)
I thought it would be amazing to gather the words from those amazing flight attendants he worked with on his last flight, so here they are:
Debera Leppell-Peterson
“I have always felt like Mike is a very close friend of mine. It was very reassuring to have him on the flight deck as we knew he was the ultimate professional and that he always had our backs. I was so disappointed that I wasn’t able to be on the actual flight crew for his final Alaska flight, but was happy to be appointed “Ground Coordinator” for the day by the working flight attendants. It was very special for me to feel that I had been more able to be a part of their great occasion for my friend Mike.”
Joy Kashiwagi
“What a great memory, flying our dear friend Captain Mike’s retirement flight.
Both Mike and I started flying at Alaska the same year, 1980.
Mike has always been a wonderful friend all these years. It was such an honor and a privilege to be on his last flight as an Alaska Captain.”
Jeannie Lynde-Cleary
“I’m so honored I could be on Mike’s last flight. He has always been one of my favorite people at Alaska Airlines. My fondest memory was going over the Arctic Circle with him. I could imagine his smile as he went over the “bump”.
His love of flying, his passengers, crew and family is infectious. His last flight will be one I will always remember. The best!! Happy Retirement my friend!!”
Susan Typpi
“It was great that Mike trusted us to be in charge of this important occasion.
We smiled when he told everyone that he hand picked this crew for his last flight. Years ago, when we were all flying trips together so often, we asked him to promise to let us crew his last flight. Actually, we almost threatened to abduct his grandchildren if he didn’t.
When we were finally awarded the trip, the reality of how big a deal it was going to be hit us. Although we were being a little selfish wanting to be “the chosen ones”, we knew there were going to be so many people who would love to participate and we needed to plan for that too. We wanted to honor his family as well as Mike and all the Alaska folks who thought so highly of him. Big undertaking. We enlisted help from our wonderful supervisors, Brad Tilden, our photographer, Dana Napoleon, and of course Russell Wilson. I think Mike was touched by everything and knew how much we cared about him. We always felt he cared about all of us.”
Did we pull it off?? I hope so.
<I have some quotes that I think remind me of Mike>
“People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“Being both soft and strong is a combination very few have mastered.”
“Today I close the door to the past.”
Final one: “By the way, I’m wearing the smile you gave me”
Mary Kesslering
“Being able to be part of Mike’s crew on his last day of flying for Alaska Airlines was one of the most sentimental highlights of my career. Alaska Airlines, despite all of its’ growth and expansion, has always seemed like my second family. It’s getting harder and harder to keep that feeling when the company is growing exponentially, but having the honor of flying with Mike – one of the pilots who fostered the family feeling at Alaska – is a treasure that I will keep in my heart forever.
Mike is one of a kind – the best of the best. When you spoke to him, he looked at you in the eyes, valued whatever you were saying, and made you feel like you were the only person in the room. In addition to that, his humor is – and will remain – unmatched. Many of my career memories include Mike making me laugh. So many of us (flight attendants) were the subject of many of his PA announcements. I particularly remember him announcing to the passengers that our crew was fresh off of a victory tour in the Trivial Pursuit championships and were soon moving on to the final competition. He encouraged passengers to give us their toughest questions for us to “practice” with. Longest beverage service of my career !
I told Mike this – and I mean it from the bottom of my heart – there will NEVER be another pilot like him who will step on to the flight deck of an Alaska Airlines jet. He is a legend, an inspiration, and he will be missed, but he leaves behind so many wonderful memories for so many people. Thank you, Mike, for all you have done. I will make it part of the remainder of my career to remember your words “Be excellent to each other”.
Love you, Mike. Happy “contrails” and best wishes to you and your beautiful family in your next chapter of life.”
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