Heart-warming moment emotional pilot breaks down in tears as he tells his passengers including his family it is his final flight as he retires after 32 years of service with American Airlines - before they all burst into applause

An American Airlines pilot brought a huge ovation with an emotional farewell speech on the final flight of his 32-year career with the company. 

Jeff Fell's words were captured by one of the passengers as they prepared to take off from Charlotte, North Carolina, when he delivered his pre-flight instructions in front of those travelling rather than over the PA.

After welcoming passengers on board, he revealed he was retiring and that this was his final trip as a pilot and began choking up as he addressed his family sat at the back of the aircraft.

'If I get a little emotional please forgive me for that,' he said, 'I normally don't stand up in front of everybody like this, I usually just stay in the cockpit and talk on the PA.

'I'd like to take just a few moments of your time before we take off to Chicago tonight, and I'd like to acknowledge a group of very important people to me that are onboard the flight - most of them are in the back of the airplane - and they're the majority of my family who have come along with me on my retirement flight.'

The retiree was applauded as he revealed why his family were joining him for the flight. 

'They're on board with me on my retirement flight after 32 years with American,' he read from a prepared speech.

'Thank you all for coming along with me tonight and celebrating this very memorable time in my life. I love all of you.'

The passengers burst into even more applause before Fell interrupted to add: 'I didn't want to get emotional but goodness gracious.'

He finally singled out his wife for individual praise as the 'solid rock in the foundation in our lives and our marriage'. 

Fell finished: 'I love you and look forward to the next chapter in our lives. And welcome aboard everybody.'

The speech was filmed and uploaded to TikTok by one of the passengers, attracting more than three million views.

Over half a million of those viewers liked the post, and thousands commented supportive messages. 

One said: 'I was on the flight! I gave him a hug after this announcement.'

Another wrote: '32 years of safe landings also. God bless him and all pilots.'

A subsequent post by the same passenger revealed that Fell was honoured with a water cannon salute on landing in O'Hare International Airport, Chicago.

This tradition, marks the retirement of a senior pilot and other notable events, and involves two airport fire trucks firing water over a passing aircraft.

Justin Harrison, who posted the clips, said he felt 'privileged to have been there for this'.