Southwest Airlines Surprises 5-Year-Old With VIP Tour After He Spots Manual Discrepancy

February 25, 2026

A 5-year-old aviation enthusiast from Colorado recently proved that big dreams — and sharp eyes — can take you a long way.

William Hines impressed leaders at Southwest Airlines after spotting what he believed was a discrepancy in one of the company’s training manuals. His keen observation ultimately earned him and his family a VIP trip to the airline’s headquarters — an experience they say they’ll never forget.

Credit: The Hines Family

William has loved airplanes for as long as his mom, Amber Hines, can remember.

“I love flying,” William said. “[Airplanes] get you from place to place a lot faster than a car does. I don’t have to walk 7,000 miles.”

His curiosity about how things work started early.

“He’d be doing tummy time and watching the wheels roll and knowing how the axles work and pulling his cars apart,” Amber said. “He’s very mechanically inclined, so I suppose it was a natural progression to want to know about more fascinating things.”

His interest in aviation grew during visits to Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, where he watched planes take off and land. But his passion truly soared after meeting a Southwest Airlines pilot named Josh. Dressed in uniform, Josh spent two hours with William reviewing aeronautical charts and discussing the details of commercial aviation. He even brought him a Southwest training manual — a detailed guide covering aircraft systems, safety procedures, and operations.

That’s when William noticed something unusual.

“I discovered that two terrain monitors did not match. They did not match at all,” he said.

After Amber shared the story online, it eventually caught the attention of Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan. Soon, William and his family were invited to Dallas for a behind-the-scenes tour of the airline’s training facility.

During the visit, William met team members, including a simulator pilot named Chris and a staffer named Earl. He even climbed inside a flight simulator — a moment the family says they will always remember.

Although Southwest later clarified that the manual discrepancy wasn’t actually an error, William’s attention to detail left a lasting impression.

“What 5-year-old knows that? Newly minted 5-year-old,” his mom said with a laugh. “But I also know that he’s a details guy, and he notices things. He listens to everything, and he really absorbs information.”

As for his future? William doesn’t hesitate.

“Yeah,” he said when asked if he wants to become a pilot someday. “Then, I can transport people to a place and not just myself, like 140 people to a place.”