Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

JJ Chalmers meets pilot who flew him out of Afghanistan on way to Tokyo 2020

01:22

JJ Chalmers meets life-saving pilot who flew him out of Afghanistan on way to Tokyo 2020

Former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers was reunited with the pilot who flew him out of Afghanistan when he was injured a decade ago.

Chalmers was injured in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2011 before going on to become a TV presenter and a part of the Tokyo Paralympic Games on-air coverage.

Onboard his flight to Tokyo, the former marine discovered pilot David Ellis was the same pilot who flew him back from Afghanistan.

Chalmers said he immediately "burst into tears" upon being told and never thought he would meet the "profound and important" figure who got him home when he was injured.

Up next

Strictly Come Dancing finalists: Who knows their partner better?

03:21

Strictly Come Dancing finalists: Who knows their partner better?

Vernon Kay issues emotional statement on Tess Daly’s Strictly exit

00:59

Vernon Kay issues emotional statement on Tess Daly’s Strictly exit

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

07:17

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

King pulls ‘perfect pint’ as he opens new Guinness brewery

01:49

King pulls ‘perfect pint’ as he opens new Guinness brewery

Editor’s Picks

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

07:17

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

Why Zootropolis 2 is the ultimate underdog story

05:16

Why Zootropolis 2 is the ultimate underdog story

Stranger Things 5: Star & creators break down final season

09:16

Stranger Things 5: Star & creators break down final season

Queen of Versailles on Broadway Stardom and Being American Royalty

40:26

Queen of Versailles on Broadway Stardom and Being American Royalty

More Editor’s Picks

ACFC

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

14:11

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

12:18

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

30:24

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

16:08

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

Well Enough

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

41:50

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

Alice Liveing on the dark side of fitness influencers

48:45

Alice Liveing on the dark side of fitness influencers

Millie Mackintosh on the true cost of alcohol

40:57

Millie Mackintosh on the true cost of alcohol

Jules Von Hep and Brendan J Dunlop on male body image and beauty

37:44

Jules Von Hep and Brendan J Dunlop on male body image and beauty

More Well Enough

Travel Smart

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

07:11

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

08:32

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

05:45

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

05:35

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

More Travel Smart

Drive Smart

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

07:40

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

08:56

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

13:49

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

10:57

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

More Drive Smart

Money Smart

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

02:49

Sponsored

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

02:50

Sponsored

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

03:09

Sponsored

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

ISAs: from types to benefits, all you need to know

02:39

Sponsored

ISAs: from types to benefits, all you need to know

More Money Smart

Music Box

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

07:30

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

07:54

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

05:23

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

05:35

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

Decomplicated

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

08:03

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

11:54

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

08:21

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

06:38

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

More Decomplicated

On The Ground

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

13:23

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

17:05

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

03:51

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

04:18

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

More On The Ground

That Dress

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

02:03

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

03:22

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

02:15

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

02:22

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

More That Dress

Binge Watch

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

10:44

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

03:44

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

07:42

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

09:22

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

More Binge Watch

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

News

‘Stop redacting names’ says Epstein survivor after release of files

01:06

‘Stop redacting names’ says Epstein survivor after release of files

Erika Kirk blames ‘the enemy’ for her iPad containing speech failing

00:37

Erika Kirk blames ‘the enemy’ for her iPad containing speech failing

Paragliders narrowly avoid landing in polar bear enclosure

00:29

Paragliders narrowly avoid landing in polar bear enclosure

Hakeem Jeffries goes scorched earth on Trump admin over Kennedy Center

04:31

Hakeem Jeffries goes scorched earth on Trump admin over Kennedy Center

Sport

Andy Murray teary as he discusses Chris Hoy’s cancer diagnosis

00:41

Andy Murray teary as he discusses Chris Hoy’s cancer diagnosis

Lionel Messi’s heartfelt final message to India after GOAT tour

01:03

Lionel Messi’s heartfelt final message to India after GOAT tour

Chaos erupts during Messi’s India tour as fans chuck chairs on pitch

02:13

Chaos erupts during Messi’s India tour as fans chuck chairs on pitch

Non-league club’s incredible reaction to drawing FA Cup trophy holders

00:31

Non-league club’s incredible reaction to drawing FA Cup trophy holders

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Lifestyle

Meet the man who set up the UK’s only Father Christmas school

02:47

Meet the man who set up the UK’s only Father Christmas school

Celebrity MasterChef 2025 winner left in disbelief after victory

00:37

Celebrity MasterChef 2025 winner left in disbelief after victory

Stay healthy this Christmas: Doctor’s tips to beating winter germs

01:46

Stay healthy this Christmas: Doctor’s tips to beating winter germs

Loose Women star’s husband rushed to hospital days before Christmas

00:39

Loose Women star’s husband rushed to hospital days before Christmas

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

03:29

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

03:07

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

03:07

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

03:24

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

01:07

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative