It was a normal June day in 2001 when flight attendant Alexis Milford-White reported for work as normal, anticipating nothing unusual as she stepped aboard the TUI flight bound for the Canary Islands. Prepared, as ever, to look after her passengers.

She had no idea she was about to encounter her future husband, Stuart, at 30,000 feet whilst he was travelling on holiday with his mates.

One straightforward gesture of kindness on his behalf “broke the ice” and the couple started seeing each other regularly. Merely two months into their budding relationship, Alexis was struck down with a debilitating illness, which is when Stuart truly demonstrated their love was genuine.

It was during a standard Boeing 757 flight from Manchester airport – where 32-year-old Alexis was stationed – to Tenerife that the pair first met. Stuart, 24, was seated in the emergency exit row and holidaying with friends.

He’d already begun chatting with the cabin crew member who had captured his attention when an unfortunate, clumsy incident saw him step in to spare her embarrassment.

“We got chatting throughout the flight, and at one point he even helped me when I dropped the money from duty-free sales all over the cabin floor,” Alexis said. “It was one of those moments that just broke the ice”.

Fortunately, Stuart followed his instincts and asked for Alexis’ phone number, contacting her soon afterwards, despite being on holiday with his mates. “Three days later, I got a text from Stuart, and that was it,” she said.

“We stayed in touch throughout his holiday and would talk on the phone for hours, sometimes up to 12 hours at a time.”

Alexis, who had harboured ambitions of becoming a flight attendant since childhood, secured her position after taking a bold step and leaving her banking job. She felt her career trajectory was “meant to be,” particularly when she happened to work on Stuart’s return flight home from Tenerife, which she described as feeling “felt like fate.”

Throughout the journey, the couple had the opportunity to arrange plans to see each other once back in the UK. Despite the geographical separation between their residences, with Stuart based in Birmingham and Alexis in Preston, they ensured they met up weekly.

Yet, merely two months into their fresh and thrilling relationship, Alexis fell gravely ill with a spinal bacterial infection, which left her unable to walk. Such a devastating health crisis, with the difficulties it presented, might have proved terminal for many fledgling couples.

Instead, it only strengthened their bond. Alexis had to take a lengthy break from work as she underwent water rehabilitation to relearn how to walk, but Stuart was constantly by her side.

“Without hesitation, Stuart left his training in Birmingham to come and be with me,” she shared. “He was an amazing support and it became clear very quickly we were meant to be together.”

After half a year, he moved in with Alexis, and the pair, who are avid Disney enthusiasts, tied the knot in 2004 at Disney in Florida. They’ve been inseparable since then and are on the verge of celebrating their 25th Valentine’s Day together.

Alexis has now returned to her role at TUI and believes that her travel commitments help them cherish their time together. “We’ve had our ups and downs like any couple,” she admitted.

“But if it wasn’t for that flight, we wouldn’t be together. I went to work that day thinking it was just another shift, and instead, I met my husband, and he’s my rock. Even after all these years, it still amazes me that love found us in the sky.”