A passenger on one of the final Thomas Cook flights caught an emotional moment on camera, as a cabin crew member broke down in tears during his landing announcement.
Andrew Whitmore, 48, filmed the moving speech made by Alex, who worked for Thomas Cook, on the flight from Cancun, Mexico to Manchester yesterday.
Andrew said the atmosphere on the plane was 'very emotional' as passengers tried to cheer up distraught staff who had been told hours earlier that they would return home with no job.
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Trying to read the announcement through tears, dedicated crew member Alex said: "Greetings [ladies and] gents, we would just like to apologise for the delay in getting you on the aircraft.
"As some of you may be aware, you may have switched your phones on this morning."
He then took a long pause while he tried to compose himself, to cheers of encouragement from his passengers who shouted 'come on' and clapped him.
He continued: "I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank all the crew on board for operating in such a professional manner all the way back to the UK and getting you all back here safe and sound.
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"We do have many friends and colleagues throughout the business today and I'm sure you'll appreciate we'd just like to say thank you for those customers who have flown with us for many years, those customers who have flown with us for the first time, we do hope you enjoyed your flight with Thomas Cook and you'll be the last people to be on this aircraft.
"Please have a safe journey onwards home."
Andrew, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, had just been away with his partner for two weeks and said he 'really felt' for the all the crew aboard who were serving them during their final flights.
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Andrew said: "It's very emotional. It was quite moving. I really, really felt for them.
"There's a lot of people who have lost their jobs and their livelihoods today. We'd been in Cancun for two weeks and fortunately the trip wasn't cut short. We flew on time. Last night we weren't sure what was happening so there was uncertainty.
"We knew if we got on the plane before 12 o'clock, we would fly. You could sense the atmosphere with the staff - the feeling of uncertainty."
Thomas Cook today announced that despite long negotiation talks, the company's board had no choice but to begin to enter into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect.
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Chief executive Peter Fankhauser described the company's collapse as a matter of 'profound regret'.
Featured Image Credit: PA/KennedyTopics: UK News, Thomas Cook