A young pilot's emotional surprise for his air traffic controller mother on the last day before her retirement: "Thank you for being our eyes when we're up here."

A moving moment touched the hearts of thousands of people with the farewell of Maite, an air traffic controller who, after 40 years of service, is retiring on her birthday. During her last day of work, one of the pilots she communicated with by radio, her own son, surprised her with a very special message.

The pilot, Maite's son, aware of the importance of that day for his mother, began the conversation with a simple "Good morning, Cecilia," to which she, immediately recognizing the voice, responded ironically, "You were on vacation." However, to her surprise, the pilot replied, "Yes. Surprise, surprise," revealing that it was him, and that he had told her he was on vacation to surprise her.

The emotion in Maite's voice was evident as she recognized him, and her son, sensing the importance of the moment, offered her a few words full of affection and gratitude: "Do you have a minute, Mom? Well, I wanted to say a few words. First of all, congratulations. Today is a very special day. It's not only your retirement, but also your birthday, so enjoy it," he said.

The young pilot then thanked him on behalf of all the aviators for his dedication throughout his 40 years of work: "Thank you for your passion and dedication. Three years at the Canary Islands Control Center and 24 at the Madrid Control Center. Thanks to your work, our flights are safer," he emphasized.

The message continued with a moving personal statement: “Thank you for everything you've done for me, Mom, for your endless patience, your unconditional love, and the affection you've always shown me,” he said, and concluded by wishing her the best in this new phase: “You've earned these years of hard work.”

With a broken voice, Maite responded emotionally: “The best, the best congratulations. Thank you so much, son,” and added, “I've been working and enjoying myself for 40 years, and I wish the best for everyone up there and my colleagues down below. A million thanks and a million kisses.”

These moving messages, anchored in the workplace but with a much more emotional undertone, have moved everyone who has seen the video, reflecting the love and respect felt in a profession where dedication and effort are essential for everyone's safety.