Travelers on Delta flight 1238 in Atlanta were tired, cramped and growing impatient after an extended delay. That’s when Wayne Hoey, a retired Army band musician, stood up and assembled his saxophone, ready to transform the mood with holiday music.
Hoey’s performance of Christmas carols filled the cabin, prompting passengers to clap, sing and cheer. “I was surprised and delighted,” said Kate Dailey, a passenger who shared the experience online.
A passenger on a Los Angeles-bound flight spreads holiday spirit with mid-air saxophone solo 🎷🎶https://t.co/o5e9m5JW6M
— KTLA 5 Morning News (@KTLAMorningNews) December 23, 2024
A veteran of the U.S. Army band during the Vietnam War, Hoey has spent his life using music to inspire. After his military career, he became a music teacher and now lives in Augusta, Georgia, where he performs with his own band.
On the plane, he played a mix of holiday tunes and even “Baby Shark” for the children, earning laughs and applause. “He played really well—and everything from memory!” Dailey said.
Hoey’s impromptu concert brought holiday spirit to a situation that could have been miserable. Dailey later posted, “Thank you, good sir, for your service—then and now. You just renewed my faith in humanity.”
