United Airlines 787 Captain Retires at Los Angeles After 27 Years

LOS ANGELES- United Airlines (UA) marked the retirement of Captain Vasco Rodriguez, who completed his final flight arriving from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Los Angeles (LAX).

The milestone flight, operated on a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, was greeted with an emotional farewell at LAX, where colleagues, family, and airport staff celebrated his 27 years of service.

Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

United 787 Captain Retires at LAX

Captain Vasco Rodriguez, flying under United Airlines, landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on flight UA38 from Tokyo Haneda (HND).

The arrival on September 13, 2025, was more than just another international service—it marked the closing chapter of a distinguished aviation career.

The captain was honored in the cockpit by air traffic controllers and ground staff, who expressed their gratitude over the radio.

A popular pilot, Captain Chris, while commenting on an Instagram Post, stated:

From acknowledging his decades of dedication to saluting the role of his family—his wife Julia and daughter Karina were on board—the farewell highlighted the personal and professional legacy of a pilot respected across the industry.

Here’s a transcript of a conversation between a United Airlines Captain and the Los Angeles ATC, as flagged by SpeedBird HD:

Ground Staff: Captain Vasco Rodriguez on board?
Pilot: That is affirmative, sir.
Ground Staff: Captain Rodriguez, congratulations on your 27th years of service as a pilot with United Airlines. We’d like to acknowledge your wife Julia and daughter Karina who are traveling with you today and uh have stood by your side throughout your career. On behalf of LAX World Airport, LA City Fire Station 80, we’d like to salute you and wish you a long and happy retirement.

Pilot: you know, really appreciate working uh with you guys so many years. Uh about 35 years of being flying in and out of this airport. Great job and uh all the best to you guys.
Ground Staff: Thank you, sir. Enjoy your retirement as you come through. We’ll give you a water salute for all uh your hard work throughout these years.
Pilot: Thank you so much. Much appreciated. All the best.

ATC: United 38 Heavy from the tower, congratulations, and uh, give ground a call 121.75. See ya.
Pilot: United 38 Heavy 12175. Thank you so much.

ATC: United 38, congratulations. Enjoy your retirement.
Pilot: Thank you so much. And uh really appreciate all you guys do a good job. And uh looking forward to uh, 35 years that I’ve been going. Thank you.

Photo: Los Angeles World Airport

Tributes from Colleagues and Airport Officials

Airport officials, including representatives from Los Angeles World Airports and LA City Fire Station 80, commended Captain Rodriguez for his service.

The retirement celebration included a traditional water cannon salute, a symbolic tribute reserved for aviation milestones.

Colleagues who had worked alongside him for decades shared heartfelt messages over radio frequencies, recalling his professionalism, reliability, and contributions during more than three decades of flying into and out of Los Angeles. Their words reflected not just admiration but also the camaraderie that defines aviation.

Photo: By Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76038724

United Airlines’ Legacy of Service

For United Airlines, Captain Rodriguez’s retirement is a reminder of the airline’s long tradition of career aviators who dedicate their professional lives to the skies.

Pilots like Rodriguez contribute to safety, operational excellence, and the airline’s reputation on global routes such as Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Los Angeles (LAX).

The farewell at LAX also underscores the unique aviation culture in which milestones are publicly recognized by colleagues, airport staff, and the wider aviation community. These ceremonies reflect a shared respect for the human side of air travel.

Photo: Dylan T | Flickr

Bottom Line

Retirement flights are deeply meaningful in the aviation industry. They serve as a chance to honor the dedication of flight crew members who have carried millions of passengers safely across the world.

For passengers on board, these flights often turn into memorable experiences, with heartfelt announcements and ceremonies marking the occasion.

For Captain Rodriguez, the final landing at LAX symbolized the conclusion of over three decades of professional commitment.

His career bridged years of change in commercial aviation, from fleet modernization to expanded international operations, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered by both colleagues and passengers.

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