AirTran Airways Captain Plays Harmonica on his Retirement Flight

Captain Mike "Mad Dog" Watson on his retirement flight from AirTran Airways. Mad Dog has been flying for over 52 years, and is best known for his legendary preflight announcements singing "Bad to the Bone" while playing his harmonica. Captain Watson was also recipient of the 2000 AirTran Excellence Award for his heroic efforts during an inflight emergency earlier that year.

[@taylornorman7134]

Captain “Mad dog” Watson. One of Airtrans’ best pilots until he retired. Great man

[@aviationcalgary4110]

What a nice pilot!!! :D

[@bisheebuildteam6284]

CalgaryAirportCanadaBoeing737-800 ikr

[@octopathtimetraveler5881]

Aviation Calgary looks nice.

[@mdwramp22]

One of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting..... Congrats on your retirement Mad Dog ✈️🌅

[@9HighFlyer9]

One of the last of the real aviators.

[@tallplt]

Real aviators don't have to steal other pilots' jobs.

[@olensoifer9901]

Peter Nincompoop Get a life, dude. Unfortunately, someone has to fly the planes. It doesn't concern you that, maybe someone has to take a flight to see a dying relative, etc. Doesn't matter to you, though. Too bad.

[@mariaangeles278]

Peter Nincompoop

[@virgiljones5160]

HighFlyer

[@rajshree4887]

Virgil Jonesrafi

[@petrataylor8980]

I've had him before on airtran

[@benjibean8431]

Really? That's amazing!

[@nathanbrosh4589]

petra taylor LUCKY RIP AirTran

[@cheezr77345]

I was the controller at Houston Center who worked TRS160 from LCH to the mighty Mississppi, just east of BTR! Sent him a care package of the strips and audio. Enjoy retirement Captain Mad Dog!

[@Nifty55ca]

Had the priviledge to fly on one of Capt Watson flights from Atl to Orlando...what a treat...great flight great crew..great Airline...best of luck in your retirement Skipper....

[@mildredraggio9528]

Rick T.

[@karlowagstaffe7396]

Wish every Captain was like that.

[@RASELOUN1]

Karlo Wagstaffe of my own ih /&7

[@dbhome2618]

Karlo Wagstaffe dang ghen

[@dbhome2618]

Dang Ghent

[@dbhome2618]

Rase Loun dang ' ghen

[@thetravelmanusa360]

I was on this flight! He was the nicest!

[@amilynn20]

As an AIRTRAN FA I CAN SAY THAT HE WILL BE MISSED! Wonderful person inside and out!

[@tallplt]

He's not a wonderful person. He's a scab who stole other pilots' (and their families') livelihoods. He can rot in hell.

[@bradsuhr7538]

Peter Nincompoop someones angry

[@PondofDreams539]

Mad dog was a legend when I worked at AirTran. He was looked at as a legend. I remember a story being told to me that he lost a engine right after take off, turned left, and came back and landed on the runway he just took off from without missing a beat. Hope he’s still doing well.

[@Southwest737]

Now THIS is somebody who enjoys their job!

[@marryson123]

how can you not if you're a pilot

[@NICOCRAFTAviation737]

Southwest 737 i would love to be a pilot one of the best jobs in the world

[@otootasalt2519]

Southwe243st 737

[@kasiatylak]

Southwest 737 Wiadomości

[@octopathtimetraveler5881]

Southwest 737 yeah

[@AzulToad]

This is someone who grew up for the Wild West.

[@erika8214]

Yes, he was/is a very nice person and great pilot.

[@yankeealfa2339]

love this guy! Way to go mad dog! My retirement is about two years in the future but I will never be able to top yours.

[@John-vk5sp]

I flew with this great pilot no telling how many times. He was amazing! I miss you airTran ! The company was more than great, more than awesome! Thank you airTran for my life during my flight attendant years.

[@justinackert1987]

This is why i love this airline

[@windanthonystream]

I’ve flown with Maddog at least 10 times... I always loved working with him... I wish he could have came over to Southwest before he retired!!

[@traingaming3240]

So fun to hear what some pilots do when the announce stuff. It's like every pilot has a different twist although most of the time it's nothing fun just a normal thing like a normal conversation which is nice and formal but come on your in a pressurized tube with wings and cool engines for at least an hour so make it fun add a twist or two that and if you do that the mood of the flight changes to more casual instead of formal and tense. I always love a pilot with humor kinda lightens up the flight

[@alexanderpolk2874]

I remember back in 2006 flying from Chicago - Boston on AirTran and the captain played the harmonica when he made the welcome announcement...I wonder if it was the same guy. It must have been.

[@leannestrong1000]

I wish he was still a pilot. He would've made a great pilot for Southwest.

[@crazypilot7577]

Props to Mad Dog Watson!

[@davincrawford912]

i already love him

[@simonjobs.758]

Ninjago get

[@arizonaaviator1903]

@nutsaboutsouthwest please make more pilot/ cockpit videos! Thank you!

[@flyboy6753]

That's awesome!

[@msjswapnil]

Salute to the AWESOME.......................................................................Aviator.

[@solesearched]

Awesome!

[@eddiemartinez2073]

õ [

[@sterlingsplayhouse8235]

love it!

[@SusanRodgers-fw3nf]

Awesome

[@luisaberasturis6411]

What a great pilot I wish I can jaded him for all of mi flights

[@americanheavy6452]

Nice!!!!!!! 😀

[@ericquezada3955]

Nice! 💯

[@StarFlights_Buses]

That was fun music💙💛❤️🤍

[@TommyZTrains]

"The HUMAN-CONDITION" wins EVERY TIME !!! < GREAT CLIP > !!

[@yankmachain_gunfighter]

I’ve been on one of his flights

[@Banshee365]

Hags! You’re famous!

[@user-pp6dg8qr5p]

No Doubt No Commences😇😎🙏

[@miriammaldonado7848]

Congratulations! Captain Mad Dog. I wished i was in your plane when you play the harmonica. I truly regret the criticism, but some folks most have...i don't know what, and i don't care God bless you.

[@andrewdanas]

What in flight emergency?

[@TWhite94]

He reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones' character Hawk from Space Cowboys

[@zacheryalderton9502]

How many years

[@zam1803]

boeing 717 is my favorite aircraft

[@joeycarr1398]

Zachary McPencow the pilot's nickname is Mad Dog Watson so it might be an MD-88 what he fly

[@zam1803]

Sorry its 6 years replying late but this video popped up and I saw my comment and your reply but that's a cockpit of a Boeing 717 it was gonna be the MD-95 but Boeing bought out Mcdonnell Douglas in 1997 Airtran never owned the MD-88 they had the DC-9 then went to the 717 and also had the 737 at the time too also for short while leased two A320s @@joeycarr1398

[@santinojozefmiller7721]

He looks like Sheriff Grady Judd!

[@chrisreisinger4935]

CAPTAIN MAD DAWG

[@kbtv6651]

I think I've had this pilot too🎅🏼! Maybe?

[@5h28752001]

It's so funny Captain

[@speedyyy5181]

Haha that was so cool

[@chriswhite-vk4et]

just found out that he passed away rip

[@AllThingsFlightSim]

He said Wisper Jet wonder if he was an Ex Eastern pilot.

[@tjoelfoster]

Yes. Flew with him on Eastern from Birmingham to Atlanta on a Sunday morning, had to be summer of 1990 as they shut down Jan. 1991. Harmonica, sense of humor intact. Landed 6 minutes early in ATL on the smoothest landing I was ever on. The fellow ahead of me told Capt. Mad Dog as we were leaving that he must have been an Air Force pilot since he didn't set it down looking for the hook. Watson replied, "Army!" Tune was a little different then, too. I looked it up and Thorogood came out with Bad to the Bone in 1991. I knew I didn't remember that.

[@Chrisell]

Ok so it seems like the Captain is seated relatively low as compared to the visibility out the front window of the aircraft, so how does he see out when taxiing on the ground?

[@misterdawg1]

huh?

[@Chrisell]

misterdawg1 Looks like a young boy sitting in moms car unable to see over the dashboard and out the window. Clear enough?

[@misterdawg1]

They fly by the gauges, and look out the side of the plane, when they are taxing for take off the tail comes up and they can see out the front window, everyone who knows about flying knows this, just stupid people ask or say stupid things.

[@Chrisell]

misterdawg1 Thank you for answering. I'm just a person who is fascinated by and loves flying, sadly not a pilot.

[@misterdawg1]

I used to love flying now, but think I've been on my last flight. Did do some flying when I was younger in Alaska, but never finished to get a license.

[@loceymagy5626]

Hello:)

[@joeycarr1398]

LOL unique!

[@Yuppa.69]

Only on southwest

[@richardfachtmann3699]

Capt MAD DOG Watson!!!

[@PilotUnknownX]

is that a boeing 717

[@YQRAviation]

It's A SWA B737

[@PilotUnknownX]

@@YQRAviation its a 737

[@jamesdriscoll4268]

1989 Eastern Airlines Scab, Shit Bird.

[@jbean9657]

I don't know the story about why people hate him in the business, but it seems he was hired during a strike? Well, unfortunately, if you strike that is a risk you take. If someone is willing to do the job when you won't under the conditions you are striking over, that isn't their problem... I do believe in unions, but you also must realize that you do take a risk if you say I won't work under this contract or without one. It's business. If someone else will, sorry, but you're going to be looking for something else, which may not be a bad thing for you if you disagree with the policies of the company. You can't have it both ways.

[@margietwine9762]

J Bean j

[@dmercado0817]

J Bean n c

[@juangarcia6095]

😄😄😄👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@lauramczig]

Cool really funny

[@9751asd]

he should play it during a grave digger freestyle

[@oreljean119]

Hati Mishin

[@billydward]

That's no lt southwest

[@RASELOUN1]

John Doe mm no. no.

[@steemdup]

I agree - if you choose or vote to strike you can't be up in arms if others are hired to do your job while you walk the picket line. Many cannot afford to not work to support the cause when they have bills to pay and families to support. Just remember folks - you reap what you sow. BTW, SCAB stands for Secure Career and Benefits! Something to consider before criticizing the actions of others.

[@jose.luis.ayala.]

RIGHT FUCKING ON ✊👊👍

[@verystablegenius8316]

ha

[@ciroprado8786]

pandora m

[@eduardoferreira3537]

.

[@CIARUNSITE]

You'd think after 52 years he would've been able to work for a better airline than Southwest.

[@christiansnapp5101]

BeaterWRX he worked where he loved to work

[@jose.luis.ayala.]

FLEW WITH HIM ON EASTERN. HAD TO MOVE ON WHEN THEY CLOSED DOWN..

[@rdc2724]

good thing he doesn't play drums :)

[@kennethwatts6189]

h

[@kankindlilemmerence719]

tum

[@ttnnaples8060]

Maybe it was his 'reFIREDment' flight 😨

[@kewkabe]

Now he'll have all the time he needs to cross picket lines and take striking workers' jobs.

[@marklittle9913]

Absolutely disgusting. SCAB.

[@parkerestes6470]

EAL SCAB '89...and this mindset carried over to AT. He negotiated with crew schedulers to fly the FO seat at 1.5 Capt rates while those same FOs were furloughed. We're talking junior employees, with young families, on the street and no benefits and this POS continued to play his harmonica and collect his paycheck and more! They always try to justify their actions...including him. Yeah, continue to praise ol' MD and his exploits, but it'll never change what he is...a low-life SCAB!

[@parkerestes6470]

Mark Little my rant wasn't directed at you, but all of the people who praise the SCAB!

[@marklittle9913]

Jesus!!! Is it possible to be a SUPER SCAB? Apparently.

[@marklittle9913]

No AAronBarthol, if you had any comprehension of the US airline industry, you would understand that people like him were just taking OTHER people's jobs, while those people did without. Literally stealing from those individuals to line their own selfish pockets. SCAB.

[@greenidguy9292]

Mark Little I guess you sucked at your job and lost it huh?

[@PlatinumEagleStudios]

CRINGE!!!!!!!!