Bette Nash, the longest-serving flight attendant in the world, has died. She was 88 years old.
Nash’s death was confirmed in a statement published by American Airlines on X, formerly Twitter.
“We mourn the passing of Bette Nash, who spent nearly seven decades caring for our customers in the air,” the company wrote.
“She started in 1957 and held the Guinness World Record for longest-serving flight attendant,” American Airlines continued. “Bette inspired generations of flight attendants. Fly high, Bette.”
Nash died in hospice after being recently diagnosed with breast cancer, ABC News and Business Insider reported. She never officially stepped down from her role at American Airlines despite her health, the media said.
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Nash began her career with Eastern Airlines, which later became American Airlines, in Washington, DC, in 1957, according to ABC News.
“You had to be a certain height, you had to be a certain weight. It used to be horrible,” she previously told WJLA about the start of her career.
“You put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself. And then if you stayed like that, they’d take you off the payroll,” Nash continued.
She usually worked on the East Coast so she could be home every night to care for her son, who has Down syndrome, WJLA reported.
Bette Nash.
Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty
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The association of professional flight attendants also remembered Nash sa statement about X.
Noting that she “touched many with her warmth, dedication and service,” the organization added: “RIP, Bette. You will not be forgotten.”
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