Crying 6-Year-Old Loses Tooth on Plane, So Captain Steps Up to Smooth Things Over with Tooth Fairy

Editor’s Note: Our readers responded strongly to this story when it originally ran; we’re reposting it here in case you missed it.

Flights are generally memorable because they go so well or so poorly — but one family whose recent trip was heartbreaking for one family member is now remembering the trip fondly, thanks to one kind man in particular.

Mom Lauren, Dad Brian and their kids Lena and James had just gotten stateside after a visit to Norway. They endured a 36-hour layover in New York until finally it was time to hop on a flight to their home state, 🌴South Carolina.

Lena slept on the flight home, but unbeknownst to her, as she slept, her loose bottom tooth fell out.

Once they landed and roused themselves for the last leg of their journey home, Lena suddenly realized she was missing something.

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The family had already made it to the baggage claim at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer when Lena became distraught over the discovery.

“We groggily picked Lena up and were walking down to grab our bag,” Lauren said, according to Fox News. “We sat her down, and she realized, ‘Oh, my gosh, my tooth fell out.'”

“She started crying, saying, ‘I have nothing for the Tooth Fairy.’ You know, she’s tired, she’s six.”

It was also 2 in the morning — not the easiest time to get hold of an airport employee. They walked back toward security, but it was already closed.