Editor's Note:​

Recently, we received a submission titled "A Sky Encounter" from our young reader, Tang Jingqi, in Chongqing. In this sincere and vivid account, the 13-year-old recounts a heartwarming and serendipitous experience during his travels between Norway and Spain—meeting the same captain of KLM not once, but twice in the skies.

Through the eyes of a child, the world is often filled with meaningful coincidences and connections. A curious visit to the cockpit, an unexpected reunion above the clouds—these moments have become a cherished memory in the boy's growth, reflecting the simple yet genuine bonds that can form between people. Between the sky and the earth, in meetings and reunions, we glimpse a Chinese teenager stepping into the wider world—and a subtle, touching intersection of cultures.

We are pleased to publish the full text of this innocent and heartfelt piece, hoping that this "sky encounter" will also bring a smile and a sense of warmth to our readers:

When Mom told me she would take me to Spain for Christmas, I was so excited I couldn't sleep for several nights!

The day before Christmas, we set off, flying on a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines A321neo.

The journey from Norway to Madrid, the capital of Spain, wasn't very long, but the plane was packed. Among the crowd wearing airline uniforms, I suddenly noticed someone. This uncle looked familiar, as if I'd seen him somewhere before, but I was afraid of being mistaken and making a fool of myself. Finally, I mustered the courage to greet him. After asking, it turned out he really was that captain—the very smart and handsome uncle I'd met before! At that moment, my excitement was beyond words, and the scene of our first meeting immediately came to mind.

That was four months ago, when I was flying from Norway back to my home in China for summer vacation. I was also on a KLM flight, an A320neo. On the plane, seeing that I was a Chinese child, he was very kind to me. When the plane landed at Amsterdam Airport in the Netherlands, out of curiosity, I said I'd like to see what the cockpit looked like. The captain nodded right away and took me there. Inside, the dense array of large and small instruments and dials was dizzying to look at. I thought that being a pilot was really not easy! To seize this rare opportunity, I asked to take a photo with the captain and the co-pilot, and he agreed. I took out my phone, and with a "click," I captured that unforgettable moment.

Tang Jingqi's first photo with the captain. (Photo: Tang Jingqi)

Since then, I had never seen that handsome captain again, though I often thought of him. Little did I expect that we would meet once more, and again in the vast, boundless sky, among the bustling crowds. In one's lifetime, we meet countless people and take many flights, but to meet the same captain twice in such a short time is truly rare. Perhaps this is what we call fate! This amazing encounter will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Tang Jingqi's reunion photo with the captain. (Photo: Tang Jingqi)

(The author is 13 years old)