A Frontier Airlines mechanic was working to replace a lavatory mirror on a ten year old Airbus A320 (registration N228FR) acquired in 2015 from now-defunct Monarch Airlines in Tampa back on February 20th. He saw something behind the mirror that looked like a postcard. He read it, and – he says – he was “blown away.”
He had found a photo of a 4 year old girl named Grace Kelly riding an airplane, and on it was a note from her grandparents.
Our dear grandchild, Grace, 4½ years old. Taken from us in 3 weeks with a very rare liver cancer (November 2014).
Our little angel had always wanted to fly — so she flies with Monarch — hidden away for as long as possible.
Happy travels darling Grace, you made our lives just perfect for all too short a time.
God bless. XXX, Grandma + Grandad
She loved to fly, so her photo flew – for more than eight years. It had been placed behind the mirror when the A320 was still in service with Monarch.
The mechanic checked in with his supervisor and got permission to return the photo to its place behind the now-replaced mirror, “so the girl could fly.” And he took photos of it as well.
The maintenance supervisor mentioned it to a cabin crew instructor, who shared the story on Facebook and tagged a Frontier Airlines flight attendant who used to work at Monarch. She then shared it on a private Monarch alumni group. Eventually they figured out that the girl’s family started a cancer charity in her honor, and got in touch with the family.
According to Grace’s mother,
We lost Grace when she was just 4 years old. She never had the chance to fly in a plane. It feels so special to know that Grace’s photo has been flying for so many years and continues to do so thanks to Frontier Airlines. We are so grateful to know that they have tracked us down to let us know. Thank you so much to everyone that helped make this possible.
The next time you fly Frontier, first consider a status match, and then check to see if you’re flying N228FR, which features Orville the Red Cardinal on its tail, because you may be traveling with Grace’s photo.
(HT: JonNYC)
I’m not crying. I just got some dust in my eye.
I’m not crying; you’re crying!
Super sad story. How brutal to get violent rare cancer at age 4…cruel fate.
I would love to and be honored to fly with Grace’s picture. ♥
Glad you’re not crying otherwise you’ll start me off.
You wear the crown of a Monarch Grace. Fly high, fly free, fly with love
Your heartwarming article Gary reminds me of the story “Disney World secretly struggles to prevent tourists from scattering ashes of loved ones.” When flying to tourist destinations like Disney World, I always wonder if the extra “aircraft dust” found in the cabin was due to scattered cremains bestrewn by some passengers. Like hiding a photo behind a bathroom mirror, with the lack of aircraft cabin cleaning between flights, human cremains scattered throughout an aircraft cabin, behind a tray table, or tossed between the passenger seats may become memorialized until the aircraft ultimately goes to an aircraft graveyard. I wonder if C-Suite airline executives prefer cremation.
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/disney-world-secretly-struggles-to-prevent-tourists-from-scattering-ashes-of-loved-ones-3936986.html
Oh Grace, you are still bringing your love to the world. Keep on flying, you incredible Monarch.
Thanks, Gary, for highlighting this story. Also, thanks to Frontier Airlines, and Grace’s wonderful grandparents.
I just wish I could stop crying.
Donated to their trust. Thanks for sharing.
I think it would be an awfully nice gesture to name the aircraft after her.
I have a 4 1/2 year old granddaughter so it’s incredibly hard to read this story!!!!! My heart goes out to both the parents and grandparents. I believe your little angel awaits you by Jesus side in heaven. A treasure waiting for your arrival one day.
I’m not crying either, there’s no crying in baseball, wait…wrong movie. Enjoying Frontier’s promotion, I’ll be sure to look for this bird.
Did anyone provide the family with the flight records of the plane? It would show everywhere she flew.
My sister died of a rare cancer when she was only three years old, so I’m finding this very, very moving.
Just donated let’s make this go viral
https://www.gkcct.org/