The world's longest-serving flight attendant has died at the age of 88 after nearly seven decades of service.
Bette Nash was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and died in hospice care on May 17, although she never officially retired from her role with American Airlines. The inspiring woman began her career in Washington DC in 1957 with Eastern Airlines, which later became American Airlines.
She had the option to fly any route in the world over her 67 years of service, but mainly worked the DC-NY-Boston Shuttle so she could return home every night to care for her son with Down Syndrome. In 2022, she was honoured with the Guinness World Records title for longest-serving flight attendant.
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The flight attendant never resigned from her role at American Airlines (AFP via Getty Images)"We mourn the passing of Bette Nash, who spent nearly seven decades warmly caring for our customers in the air," American Airlines said in a statement posted to X. "She started in 1957 and held the Guinness World Record for longest-serving flight attendant. Bette inspired generations of flight attendants. Fly high, Bette."
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The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the union representing flight attendants in the United States, shared a tribute to Bette on Facebook, writing: "Bette's remarkable career spanned over six decades, during which she touched countless lives with her warmth, dedication and unparalleled service.
"Her passion for flying and her commitment to her passengers were truly inspiring. Bette's legacy will forever be remembered in the aviation community and by all who had the privilege of knowing her."
Bette was honoured with the Guinness World Records title for longest-serving flight attendant in 2022 (AFP/Getty Images)Brady Byrnes, senior vice president of Inflight & Premium Guest Services for American Airlines, said in a memo for flight attendants seen by ABC News: "With her quick wit, magnetic personality and passion for serving others, Bette set an example not just for the flight attendant profession but for all of us in the airline industry." At the beginning of her career, flights between New York and Washington only cost $12 (£9) and Bette said there were strict restrictions regarding weight and personal relationships she and other flight attendants had to endure to maintain their careers.
She explained the airline would check on her at home to ensure she was not living with a man as flight attendants had to be single. She said the airline would also weigh her before shifts and could suspend her if she gained too much weight.
In 2017, she told ABC affiliate WJLA: "You had to be a certain height, you had to be a certain weight. It used to be horrible. You put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take you off the payroll."
"You worked harder physically in those days," said Bette. "We served this big meal tray. And I was the only one on the plane, so I had to take care of everybody."
Bette said the biggest changes she witnessed over the years related to technology, as flight attendants had to adjust from flight schedules on a blackboard and manuals to tables.
She said: "echnology really made the difference of, 'Am I going to stay or am I going to go?' But even when I think I might retire or something, then I come to work and think, 'Oh, I couldn't do that.' It's stimulating coming out here. The airlines are evolving continuously, and you have to evolve with them." Before her passing, Bette attended regular flight attendant training per Federal Aviation Administration rules.
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