Pilot has surprise encounter with father, also a pilot, on the runway at Virginia airport: 'Pops?'

A United Airlines Instagram post shared an air traffic control exchange from Sept. 1 at Washington Dulles International Airport showing a surprise reunion on the runway between a father and daughter—both pilots. The father recognized his daughter’s voice as the two prepared to depart on separate flights. He was piloting United Flight 108 while she was about to leave as the pilot of CommuteAir Flight 4977, operating for United Express. Their conversation included quick greetings and departure reassurance. Air traffic control then teased the daughter’s status as a “proud papa” moment, and added playful comments about her still being on the family cell phone plan until she gets married. She said she was still single when the exchange ended.