Love is in the air: Lebanese pilot proposes to girlfriend on MEA flight

A Lebanese woman got more for her flight ticket when her boyfriend, who was piloting the plane, proposed to her aboard the flight.

Ibrahim Khatib, a pilot for Lebanon’s national carrier Middle East Airlines, surprised his girlfriend after making the announcement with 245 people on board, according to local media reports and a video of the proposal that has since gone viral on social media platforms.

"Dear passengers, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome a very special passenger on board today. Her name is Chirine El Haj Chehade. Could you please stand up?" the pilot can be heard saying in English, as the plane was still parked.

*بالفيديو- مفاجأة "كابتن" لبناني.. تقدّم بطلب الزواج من حبيبته على متن طائرة الميدل ايست!*

نشرت صفحة "meafansclub" على حسابها عبر انستاغرام فيديو للطيار ابراهيم الخطيب يتقدّم بطريقة لافتة عبر المذياع من حبيبته شيرين حج شحادة بطلب الزواج قبل انطلاق الطائرة. pic.twitter.com/ZyNQ1DGJd2

— TRENDSNEWSLB (@TRENDSNEWSLB) July 11, 2023

"I would like to inform you in front of 245 passengers that I love you so much and I decided to continue with you the rest of my life," the pilot said on the PA announcement, as his girlfriend can be seen standing in disbelief as passengers begin to clap.

Khatib then drops "the famous question."

"Will you marry me?" he asks, to which his overjoyed girlfriend answers in Arabic: "Of course yes."

In the video, the pilot can be seen coming out of the cockpit to hug his girlfriend and place a ring on her finger. 

The romantic gesture went viral on social media with many people viewing and sharing the video, which was originally posted by a page called Middle East Airlines Fans Club.