German Woman Ends 9 Year Relationship with Boeing 737 but Remains Friends

In a remarkable tale of unconventional love, Michele Köbke, a 36-year-old warehouse worker from Germany, has revealed that she has ended her nine-year-long romantic relationship with a Boeing 737-800 airplane, which she fondly called “Darling.” Despite the breakup, Köbke shared that the separation was amicable, and the two remain friends, according to German newspaper Bild.

Köbke’s unusual relationship began in 2014 when she developed deep feelings for the Boeing 737-800. Her affection for the aircraft led her to label it as the most “beautifully built” and “attractive” plane she had ever seen.

What particularly drew her to “Darling” were its winglets, which she found irresistible. “When I touch his wings, I get immediately sweaty palms and get excited,” she once shared.

Michele was diagnosed with objectophilia, a condition in which individuals form emotional and romantic bonds with inanimate objects. Reflecting on her diagnosis, she said, “I’m normal. Admittedly, at first I thought I was crazy. But then I found out that I’m an objectophile. People are just very diverse in the way they structure their relationships.”

For Michele, her love for “Darling” was akin to a traditional romantic relationship. She described their time together as deeply fulfilling, even stating, “We have relaxing evenings together, and when we go to bed, we cuddle and fall asleep together.”

At one point, she even entertained the idea of marrying the plane and living with it in a hangar, calling it “a special kind of love that doesn’t hurt anybody.”

However, the relationship was not without its challenges. Michele admitted that being with “Darling” was difficult due to the logistical limitations of interacting with an airplane.

She could only be close to the Boeing when she was flying or, on rare occasions, when she had access to it in a hangar. These constraints made the relationship complicated at times.

Despite the end of their romantic involvement, Michele insists that she and the airplane remain on good terms. “We’re still friends,” she told German newspaper Bild, underscoring the enduring connection she still feels.