We flew into Palm Springs yesterday on Southwest and due to our first flight being delayed DW and I were the last 2 on the plane, so we both got middle seats away from each other.
I was seated between two women, both 30 years or so younger than me. When we were coming in for the landing, the woman to my right was visibly nervous. I started talking her through it, and it seemed to be working, things like “we’re almost down, it’s going smoothly, it’s almost over.”
Then, right before touching down, the pilot unexpectedly accelerated and began ascending again, and did a big 10 minute circle before finally landing.
My new friend was having a really hard time with this. We continued talking and she was getting extremely nervous.
Then I did something that surprised both of us. Without asking, I cautiously took her hand. She reciprocated by placing her other hand over mine and with both hands tightly held my hand. I then added my other hand, and for the rest of the flight our four hands were tightly interlocked.
I took a risk, doing something that could have been seen as inappropriate, but her tears confirmed it was definitely the right thing to do.