Dutch King, Willem Alexander secretly worked as a part-time co-pilot for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for past 21 years of his life. The 50-year-old king, who is a qualified pilot, flew as a co-pilot, as part of his hobby and to take his mind off his royal duties. He never introduced himself while making announcements and according to a report in The New York Times, he quips “The advantage is that I can always say that I wish everyone a heartfelt welcome in the name of the captain and the crew. So I don’t have to say my own name. But most of the people don’t listen anyway.”
For everytime he flew, the king completely understood his responsibility as he added, “You have an aircraft, passengers and crew. You have responsibility for them. You can’t take your problems from the ground into the skies. You can completely disengage and concentrate on something else. That, for me, is the most relaxing part of flying.”
According to the photograph description on Facebook post by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, only a few people are able to recognise him when he walks through the airport wearing his captain’s cap. The news definitely comes as a refreshing change from the ones we usually keep reading about the royal families. And, the Dutch king following his passion is inspiring more than interesting.
