Heartwarming photo of young girl and pilot shows you don't need arms to hug

A young girl born without arms has met the world’s first-ever armless pilot; their meeting captured by a photo which shows that a warm embrace doesn’t require all limbs.

Three-year-old RE (Ruth Evelyn) Pranke wanted to meet Jessica Cox, a motivational speaker also born without arms, so mum Karlyn Pranke drove her daughter six hours to Wisconsin, from Minnesota, for the emotional meeting.

“It was amazing. I’m just grateful that we had the opportunity to show everyone that it doesn’t matter if you have arms or not, that you can do the same things as everyone else, you just may have to do it a little differently,” Ms Pranke told ABC News in the US.

Ms Pranke and her daughter met Ms Cox at the US premiere of her documentary, ‘Right Footed’, a story about her life as a pilot, public speaker and third-degree black belt.

“It was just as important I think for RE’s mum to meet me and reassure her that her daughter is going to be just fine,” Ms Cox said.