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Flight 232 hero dies

Captain Fitch actually passed away May 7, 2012.

Back in the early 90's, I attended an Aviation Safety seminar in my State Capital where the speaker was Captain Al Haynes of UAL 232. He gave a lengthy talk about the accident after showing a non-public video of the accident. At the end of the video and beginning of his talk, his exact words were: "What you have just witnessed was in effect a "Non-Survivable Crash". At the end of the talk (which stressed CRM and keeping cool under stress of Emergencies), we were in awe of the entire Crew of UAL 232 which Captain Haynes shifted credit from himself to them. At the conclusion, he held a meet & greet and answered individual questions. Myself and my best friend who's an Airbus Captain were the first two to meet with Capt Haynes. Heck of a nice guy!
 
I watched the six-part You-tube video that is linked in that story above. I had never seen this one before. Very interesting. You never know how somebody, or even yourself, will deal with a tragedy, but I sure do hope that the woman who "poked him in the chest and said 'you killed my daughter'" has since watched this video...
 
Years ago I was on lead work in SD and IA. When the time came to return to Chicago my flight left from the same airport where this accident happened. After checking in at the counter, I asked the help where the accident occurred. One of the folks explained the layout of the airport and directed me to a location outside where they said the video everyone has seen on the news was shot. Confirmation I was in the right spot came from a bunch of wilted flowers that were stuck in the links of the hurricane fence where the camera was located.

As we taxied out later in the day I happened to glance around the airport grounds and noted a fairly substantial pile of debris next to a hangar. The debris, smoke-blackened and charred, bore the colors of UAL.

Can you please give me some info re: where on YouTube this video you reference can be found? Thanks.
 
This is part 1 of 6. Part 5 seems to be missing, unfortunately.

EDIT: You can find part 5 by searching: "one hell of a tale (part 5)"

 
Met Al Haines at a speech he gave about Flight 232. Even years later he chuckles when they play back the ATC conversations. "United 232. Cleared to land any runway..."

Al's reply : "You wanna be particular and make it a runway, huh?"
 
After watching that video and others, and hearing the pilots talk about what they faced, it's always amazed me when I see the footage of the plane on final, just before impact. It's perfectly level, slightly nose up, it looks like a perfect approach! Then it disappears behind the trees, and when it comes back out...
 
Reply...

AussieMan said:
Hitch hiking pilot Denny Fitch one of the heroes of flight 232 has died from brain cancer aged 69. What made his survival all the more remarkable was that he was on the cockpit floor operating the throttles and did not have the benefit of a safety belt. Story is here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/denny-fitch-hero-pilot-obituary_n_1505335.html

Also the 19th of July is the 25th anniversary of the miracle event.
Click to expand...

AussieMan,

What is more amazing than that is that he happened to be a DC-10 training pilot on his way home, and recognized the unusual movements the aircraft was making and volunteered to come forward to help. He stated that "I was dumfounded because, this situation was never even contemplated. As a matter of fact, there were no procedures for it."

Stepping forward into that situation and doing anything he could to help is an example of the highest levels of training, professionalism, guts, and coolness under fire. May he rest in peace.
 
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