The situation aboard Southwest Flight 1380 looked desperate. One of the engines exploded shortly after takeoff, shattering a passenger window and causing the plane struggle to stay in the air. Air maks dropped from the ceiling as the pressurized air was sucked out of the open window. Chaos reigned everywhere except the pilot’s seat, where former Navy pilot Tammie Jo Shults sat cool, calm and collected. She is a hero worth talking about.
As Shults guided the plane safely into Philadelphia, saving 148 people. Once the plane landed, she walked back into the cabin to speak to each of the survivors. Sadly, the flight was not casualty-free. Jennifer Riordan, 43, of Albuquerque, New Mexico who was partially sucked out of the plane shortly after the explosion died shortly after landing. It was the first fatality in Southwest’s 51-year history.
Passengers praise "amazing," "incredible," Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 pilot Tammie Jo Shults after she safely lands their plane following mid-air engine failure. Learn more about her here: https://t.co/Dz6qCMtZZ8 #breaking pic.twitter.com/OfrKMTEJfD
— Tom Cleary (@tomwcleary) April 17, 2018
Shults’ actions were no fluke. She was one of the first female tactical pilots in the United States Armed Forces and the first to fly the F/A-18, a carrier-capable combat jet. She retired as a lieutenant commander with two Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a National Defense Service Medal. She was also a pistol marksman.
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“We all feel we were simply doing our jobs,” Shults and Ellisor said in a statement posted on the airline’s social media pages. “Our hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family’s profound loss.”