Every traveler stuck in an airport during a weather delay has heard the line of "we will do anything we can to help you through this delay and get you to your destination," but United Express pilot Billy Hock took that motto to heart.
According to St. Louis TV station KSDK, Hock, stranded at Lambert International Airport along with 1,700 other people -- decided to take to a piano in the airport in an effort to help soothe fliers stuck in the airport.
"Everything I play, I write myself, and for fun, I find [playing piano} better that way," said Hock to the station, according to USA Today.
KSDK reports "he played in Terminal 1 for about three hours as a mixture of snow and sleet covered the runway." Nearly 300 flights were canceled at St. Louis Thursday (Feb. 22) as a winter storm snarled flights throughout the central USA, reported by USA Today.
The storm, which weather centers around the Midwest reported had, in some areas, Wind gusts of 30 mph and anywhere between 7-15 inches of snow, took a major toll on the workers, took a major toll on the workers, but one airport official was sure to tell KSDK that "our airfield crews are continuing to work on the runways, taxiways and ramp areas as the storm goes on,"
As he played, the people waiting for the airport to resume service sat and listened. It was clear that Hock was keeping their stress level down, while also allowing them to stay awake in order to hear any announcements.
Hock's playing isn't the first time that stranded passengers found ways to entertain themselves:
In the past, stranded airport passengers have been entertained in other unique ways. In 2010, passengers stuck at Newark filmed themselves singing "Hey Jude." And, in 2012, a group of college cheerleaders were brought in to help passengers stuck in China's Dalian International Airport pass the time.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
