Southwest Pilot’s Emotional Final Flight: Father and Son Take to the Skies Together

After more than 40 years of flying, pilot Tom Schmidt will take his final commercial flight this week.

PHOENIX — A Valley pilot is set to retire after a career spanning over four decades.

Tom Schmidt, a Southwest Airlines captain, will be joined by his son, Matt, on his final flight this Friday. Matt is also a pilot for Southwest Airlines.

Tom’s aviation journey began in the Air Force during the 1980s, where he operated tanker aircraft like the KC-10.

He transitioned to commercial aviation and has been with Southwest Airlines for over 30 years.

“There’s nothing like flying, especially during sunset or sunrise,” Tom shared. “It’s been rewarding getting families and friends to their destinations.”

During the pandemic, Tom had the chance to retire early but chose to continue flying, aiming to share the cockpit with Matt as he pursued his pilot’s license.

Matt eventually joined Southwest, and the duo has been flying together for the past two and a half years.

“Every time I’m in the cockpit with him, it feels like a dream come true,” Tom remarked.

Tom reminisced about teaching Matt to fly on his own plane, including aerobatic maneuvers and formation flying.

“He’s my only child who showed interest in flying, and I nurtured that,” Tom added.

Matt expressed that his father’s retirement flight holds special significance for their family.

“Being his first officer on this flight will be a cherished moment,” Matt said.

Tom is fondly remembered by colleagues as “the chocolate bar guy,” a tradition he started by giving crew members Hershey bars.

“It was my way of spreading cheer,” Tom said, recalling the smiles it generated.

Tom described his retirement as “bittersweet” and expressed initial reluctance to retire.

“I was hoping for the Senate bill to raise the age to 67, but it didn’t pass,” Tom mentioned.

Despite his mixed feelings, Tom looks forward to flying with Matt in his personal plane and traveling with his wife.

“My wife has been retired for 10 years and is ready for me to join her in the next chapter of our lives,” Tom said.