Video of Spirit Airlines employee dancing with cheerleaders during flight delay goes viral
Most flight delay announcements prompt frustrated groans and sighs from passengers. But, for a Spirit Airlines flight at the Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina, the delay resulted in an impromptu line-dancing party so lively, an airline employee couldn’t help but join in on the fun. The whole scene — featuring a large group of cheerleaders — was captured on video and has gone viral.
A @SpiritAirlines employee helping our cheerleaders pass sometime during our delay! #spirit #sjs #storm #myrtlebeach
Multiple members of cheerleading teams from New Jersey and their families were waiting on a delayed flight back home to Atlantic City after spending the weekend at a competition in Myrtle Beach.
“It was no big deal because the girls were all hanging out entertaining each other,” mom Kristie Brown, who was traveling with her six-year-old daughter, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
However, Spirit soon announced that what they initially believed was a brief delay would take significantly longer due to unfavorable weather conditions. Following that announcement, one of the coaches took out a speaker and the girls started dancing, Brown, a teacher from Williamstown, N.J., says.
Meanwhile, Robert Dillon, a guest services agent for Spirit Airlines, was trying to make announcements about the weather delays for a flight to Chicago that was departing from a gate across the way. The 26-year-old said it was hard to miss the group of cheerleaders dancing to “The Cupid Shuffle” in the middle of the hallway.
“They just started playing music really loudly and people were dancing along,” Dillon tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “It was getting to the point where I couldn’t make the delay announcement.”
Because Dillon also works as an activities coordinator at a Myrtle Beach resort where he often does line dances with kids at the pool, he knew every song and dance the coaches were playing. And when “Wobble Baby” came on as he was passing by, Dillon couldn’t help but jump in and bust a move.
“When I jumped in on it, I don’t think anyone was expecting it— that’s when they began to cheer and really get into it,” says Dillon, adding that the cheerleaders were very excited when he started to “wobble” with them. “People started puling their phones out and recording.”
“Robert, the employee, was having a great time. I loved how much fun he was having and it was just nice to see something positive. The girls loved that he jumped in,” Brown says. “It was such a nice thing and it truly made our delay go by quickly.”
After receiving a call over radio, Dillon had to head back to work. “They were laughing that I was still working and dancing,” he recalls. “Then I was like, ‘I gotta go, I still have to work!’”
But, as Dillon helped board passengers on to their flights, many thanked him saying they had a great time in spite of the unexpected delays. Brown was especially thankful for showing “our girls how to have fun and be positive.”
“There is so much negativity in the world, especially at airports, and I just wanted people to see a fun experience and enjoy it as much as the girls and Robert did,” Brown says. She later posted it to her Twitter account writing, “A @SpiritAirlines employee helping our cheerleaders pass sometime during our delay!” Spirit responded to her post, identifying Dillon as the employee in the video.
