WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester Regional Airport celebrated a big milestone on Tuesday - 1 million passengers have passed through the gates since the Massachusetts Port Authority brought passenger service back to the facility in 2013. 

The lucky 1 millionth passenger is David Brough, someone the airport knows well because he's there every week. 

On Tuesday evenings, Brough flies from Worcester to New York City, then connects to Washington D.C. for work. As fate would have it, one of his recent flights ended up being the airport's lucky 1 millionth. 

"The next time someone tells me I'm one-in-a-million, I finally have something to point back to as evidence," Brough said. 

At Tuesday's celebration, state and local leaders hailed the milestone as a sign of clear skies ahead for Worcester Regional Airport following a period of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the past several years we have seen the development of the Worcester Airport and what it has brought to the central Massachusetts region, and I am pleased to celebrate this milestone today as Massport and this airport continue to grow and succeed," Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said. 

Brough took the microphone last and agreed it's nice to see the airport bounce back. He also made it clear he's not taking any credit.

"As I think about it, I really haven't done anything extraordinary," Brough said. "I'm just an ordinary individual that lives in the community and comes through those front doors like each of you every single Tuesday."

As a thank you for being in the right place at the right time, Brough received a pair of round trip tickets to fly anywhere in the country. He's excited to check in again soon, this time for a vacation. 

"I can tell you that I will not be using those tickets for Washington D.C.," Brough said. "I hope to find someplace fun, I just don't know exactly where yet."

Since Massport took ownership of the airport, millions of dollars have been invested in improvements. During the pandemic, Massport resurfaced half of the airport’s primary runway and installed energy-efficient runway signs with FAA funding. Next year, work will begin to resurface the other half of the runway and build a new taxiway.