Bette Nash, world’s longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88 as aviation trade icon

After serving the skies for almost 67 years, Bette Nash, the world’s longest-tenured flight attendant, has died at 88 years previous.

“It’s with unhappiness that we inform you of the passing of our expensive colleague, Bette Nash, the longest-tenured flight attendant at American Airways,” in response to a memo to flight attendants on Saturday obtained by ABC Information.

Nash died on Could 17 in hospice care after a latest breast most cancers analysis, although she by no means formally retired from her position with American Airways.

Nash started her profession in Washington, D.C., in 1957 with Japanese Airways, which later turned American Airways. Regardless of having the ability to select any route on the earth, Nash primarily labored the DC-NY-Boston Shuttle so she might be house each evening to take care of her son who has Down syndrome.

In 2022, she was honored with the Guinness World File title for longest-serving flight attendant.

“Together with her fast wit, magnetic persona and fervour for serving others, Bette set an instance not only for the flight attendant occupation however for all of us within the airline trade,” Brady Byrnes, senior vice chairman of Inflight & Premium Visitor Providers for American Airways, mentioned within the memo.

When Nash first began her aviation profession, passengers would buy life insurance coverage from a merchandising machine earlier than boarding — and flights price $12 between New York and Washington. D.C., she advised ABC Information in a 2022 interview.

On the time, Nash mirrored on the strict restrictions relating to weight and private relationships she and different flight attendants needed to endure to take care of their careers.

Nash mentioned the airline would test on her at house to make sure she wasn’t dwelling with a person as a result of flight attendants needed to be single. The airline additionally weighed her earlier than shifts and will droop her if she gained an excessive amount of weight, she mentioned.

“You needed to be a sure top, you needed to be a sure weight. It was once horrible. You placed on a number of kilos and also you needed to preserve weighing your self, after which when you stayed that approach, they might take you off the payroll,” Nash mentioned throughout a flight in 2017 with ABC affiliate WJLA’s cameras onboard.

Earlier than her passing, Nash attended common flight attendant coaching per Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

“Bette was an trade icon, and those that flew together with her knew her as a job mannequin and consummate skilled,” the airline mentioned within the memo, including, “Fly excessive, Bette. You may be missed.”