Ana Uribe was flying home from Australia to South America to visit her family. The flight was over 14 hours long, and she was exhausted. Then, suddenly the pilot called her name over the intercom and said something that stunned her.
Who was he? And how did he know her name?
Ana was originally from Columbia but had spent most of her adult years traveling the world. In 2016, she moved to Sydney, Australia, far away from her friends and family. Although she was lonely at times, she loved her new life in Australia.
After four years of living in Australia, she booked a flight home to visit her family. Little did she know what she was in for.
She booked her flight to Columbia with Qantas Airlines. The plane was supposed to take her from Melbourne to Los Angeles before she would transfer for the last part of her long journey.
Ana was on Flight QF93, which was piloted by Qantas veteran Captain Dooley Ellis
Ellis had years of experience, which meant that his passengers were in safe and capable hands. His father had also been a pilot, so it ran in the family. At first, everything proceeded as usual.
Ana and the other passengers boarded the flight and took their seats. Then, a few minutes into the flight, the captain’s voice came across the intercom.
One of the passengers caught this precious moment on camera. In the footage, Ellis can be heard saying: ”We also have a special passenger on board today, folks. Her name is Ana.”
“She’s traveling back to South America now to visit her family.” But why was he doing this?
Ellis was talking about Ana Uribe. The two had been in a relationship for the past four years. He was worried about her upcoming trip to South America.
“I want to make sure she comes back to me in Australia,” he continued.
The passengers on the plane were a bit confused by his announcement. Ana, however, didn’t mind all the attention. In the footage, we can hear her giggling about how cheesy her boyfriend is.
But what was the reason for this rather strange announcement?
Ellis then asked his girlfriend a question in English. “So now that I have her complete attention: Ana, quieres casarte conmigo?” he asked.
Ana and the other passengers went silent. They didn’t understand him. Then, Ellis repeated the question in English.
“Will you marry me?” he asked. Once Ellis asked the question, he walked over to Ana’s seat with a bouquet and ring in hand and went down on one knee while waiting for her answer.
Would she agree to marry him?
Of course, Ana said yes, and the pair kissed to celebrate the moment. They first met in 2012 after completing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in northern Spain.
This journey sees most travelers walking hundreds of miles before completing the trip. It ends at Galia’s Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
When Ellis was asked about how their relationship started, he explained: “We walked across the whole of Spain together, over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).”
“The next thing I knew, I was in Colombia visiting her.”
Despite great distances, their relationship and romance started to grow. They always found a way to be together whenever possible.
“She spent time with me in Texas before visiting me in Australia. That was it,” Ellis said.
Ana eventually decided to move to Australia to be close to her boyfriend. “We have been living together in Sydney for the last four years,” Ellis said.
However, the couple still loves to travel and explore together.
“We traveled Australia camping, and in 2016 we drove from Sydney to Cape York for six weeks camping with the crocodiles,” Ellis said.
“This is part of why he decided to propose to her in the way he did. It simply felt right and seemed appropriate,” he continued.
“I wanted to bring my life – as a pilot of 30 years with Qantas and whose father was also a Qantas captain – and Ana’s life together in that special moment that only I could achieve,” Ellis explained.
What a beautiful love story! We wish them lots of health, happiness, and love.
