Norwich alumnus shares emotional final flight with daughter, featured on Fox & Friends Weekend

Jim Curtis, Class of 1984 and former Norwich football player, appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" to discuss the viral moment from his retirement flight when his daughter surprised him with an emotional tribute in front of a plane full of passengers.

Curtis retired last month after a 43-year career in aviation that began with 21 years in the Air Force after commissioning from Norwich University, followed by 22 additional years with Southwest Airlines. His final flight from Las Vegas to Oakland, California, doubled as a family milestone: His daughter, Julia Curtis, served as his first officer for the trip.

Before takeoff, Julia took to the intercom to tell passengers it was her father's 65th birthday — the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots — and his last day in the captain's seat. She thanked him for mentoring her both as a pilot and as a person, crediting him with teaching her to carry herself "with humility, kindness, and integrity."

Video of the tribute, posted to Southwest's social media accounts around Father's Day, quickly went viral.

Speaking on the weekend morning show, Curtis admitted the moment nearly broke his composure. "I spent 30 years trying to have a stern profile," he said. "People noticed my lip quivering, and so I was just lucky to be able to keep it together."

Curtis called the surprise tribute "tremendous."

Julia Curtis joined Southwest through the airline's Destination 225° pilot pathway program and was the company's 200,000th employee. She previously played collegiate soccer at UC Berkeley after transferring from Santa Clara University.