Navy Pilots' Quick Actions Averted A Crash
- 8 years ago
The U.S. Navy recently awarded three of its pilots with the Armed Forces’ Air Medal for their quick response during a landing mishap on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The U.S. Navy has awarded three of its pilots with the Armed Forces’ Air Medal for their quick response during a landing mishap on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The recipients have been identified by the Navy Times as “Lieutenant Commander Thomas Browning, Lieutenant Commander Kellen Smith and Lieutenant Matthew Halliwell with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123.”
The incident occurred on March 18th when Halliwell and Smith were attempting to land the Hawkeye aircraft they were piloting when the arresting cable on the flight deck snapped.
A video posted by the Navy Times shows the plane landing, speeding across the deck, descending towards the water, then reappearing as it flies back up.
Because of their actions and those of Browning who acted as the flight’s fire watchman, the Hawkeye was saved, and the trio was recognized.
However, some crew members on the aircraft carrier were not so lucky; several were injured by the whipping cable which is believed to have snapped due to a maintenance error.
The U.S. Navy has awarded three of its pilots with the Armed Forces’ Air Medal for their quick response during a landing mishap on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The recipients have been identified by the Navy Times as “Lieutenant Commander Thomas Browning, Lieutenant Commander Kellen Smith and Lieutenant Matthew Halliwell with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123.”
The incident occurred on March 18th when Halliwell and Smith were attempting to land the Hawkeye aircraft they were piloting when the arresting cable on the flight deck snapped.
A video posted by the Navy Times shows the plane landing, speeding across the deck, descending towards the water, then reappearing as it flies back up.
Because of their actions and those of Browning who acted as the flight’s fire watchman, the Hawkeye was saved, and the trio was recognized.
However, some crew members on the aircraft carrier were not so lucky; several were injured by the whipping cable which is believed to have snapped due to a maintenance error.