A Doll, Diamond and Dog: The Top Heartwarming Reunion Stories of 2025

During the holidays, the arrivals area at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is home to many reunions – soldiers returning home, grandparents being greeted by grandchildren, and families reuniting. For three travelers, PIT facilitated reunions in 2025 that they will never forget.

In February, PIT made national headlines for returning a beloved stuffed bunny, nicknamed “Bunny,” to its 6-year-old owner, Waylynn. When Bunny was found at the airport, PIT staff took photos of the stuffed rabbit enjoying its airport tour and posted them online, asking the community for help finding the owner. The post went viral, and within days, Waylynn’s grandparents spotted the lost rabbit, picked up Bunny, and returned it to the overjoyed child.

How Pittsburgh Rallied to Get a Stuffed Bunny Back Home

By Gina Mastrangelo – Feb. 10, 2025

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In June, airport maintenance workers turned a Friday the 13th into a heartwarming story when they found and returned April Schmitt’s diamond from her engagement ring. Schmitt noticed the diamond was missing on her way home, likely falling off near the baggage carousel when she claimed her luggage. After her initial frantic search, airport maintenance workers, including Tom Riordan and Steve Turkaly, joined in, searching for hours in the complex machinery beneath the carousel. Using improvised tools, such as taped-together paint sticks, they located the gem under a baggage carousel after looking for hours. Ironically, Schmitt had been engaged on a Friday the 13th and was married on a Friday the 13th. So, losing and recovering her engagement ring diamond on Friday the 13th continued her lucky streak on an unlucky day.

‘Committed to Doing the Right Thing’: PIT Staff Finds Passenger’s Missing Diamond

By Bob Kerlik – June 18, 2025

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In September, PIT was home to “Peewee’s Big Airport Adventure.” On the evening of Sept. 13, Kalynn Schweichler and her family arrived at PIT from Gilbert, Arizona, for a funeral. While at the rental car area, their dog Peewee was spooked by something and bolted, running away while still on his leash. The family and Allegheny County Police searched throughout the night without success. The next morning, airport operations supervisor Mark Nassan and operations manager Marc Buranovsky heard about the missing dog and began looking. After about 45 minutes of searching through brush and weeds, Buranovsky spotted a flash of white and found Peewee tucked away under a bush. The dog was safely secured and reunited with his grateful, emotional owner shortly after.

Peewee’s Big Airport Adventure: PIT Operations Team Reunites Missing Dog with Owner

By Gina Mastrangelo – Sept. 19, 2025

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These are just a few examples of the great lengths PIT’s dedicated employees and volunteers go to reunite travelers with their precious belongings, whether the value is real or sentimental.

In 2025, approximately 10 million travelers came through PIT with thousands of items being left behind, from eyeglasses and electronics to clothing and jewelry. A forgotten water bottle receives the same attention as a diamond ring and a stuffed animal sparks the same urgency as a pet.

To make it easier for travelers to recover lost items, the airport launched a new self-service lost-and-found tool in July, giving passengers greater control, clarity and convenience. In the past, passengers had to call or email the Information Desk during business hours to report lost items. Now, they can submit a claim, check its status in real time, and receive automated updates 24/7 from any device by visiting the Lost and Found Webpage.

The new digital tool is part of PIT’s broader “We Got You” initiative — an effort grounded in human-centered design to deliver services that support passengers and staff through unexpected moments.