After being stationed for more than nine months in a foreign country, this first lieutenant was given an early homecoming surprise when his connecting flight was being piloted by none other than his father.

Mario Lopes was transferring to fly home from Germany to Virginia Beach, after serving in Kuwait. His father, a United Airlines pilot also named Mario, saw that his son's flight was departing on his own airline–and jumped at the chance to captain it.

Waiting until everyone was aboard the plane, Mario's dad snuck up behind his son and said, "First Lieutenant Lopes! What are you doing on my aircraft?!"

A colleague recorded video of the beautiful reunion.

"It's absolutely the best surprise I've ever had. As great as it is being back in the US, that was certainly the best thing to happen to me."

(WATCH the Heartwarming Reunion Above)Click to SHARE the Homecoming…