OKLAHOMA CITY — The touching moment a sailor's body was taken to home her family moved an airplane full of passengers to tears as they watched the emotional scene unfold.
The U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswains Mate Handler on board the plane was Brooke Newton, 25, who died in San Diego on Aug. 30, according to an obituary published in the Edmond Sun.
When Helms and the rest of the passengers looked out the window, they watched as Newton’s family was given the casket containing their daughter’s body.
[ >> Read more trending news ]
Mike Helms, who was on the plane, said that when the craft touched down, the pilot asked passengers to remain on board while the fallen hero was removed.
They were at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City on Thursday night when Helms wrote on Facebook, "This moment hit me hard for some reason. I couldn't hold back tears. As I looked around the plane, I was hoping nobody would see my moment of weakness … But to my surprise, damn near everyone on the plane was crying."