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United Airlines Flight 811
🕑 Added 2023-10-10 10:15:00 +0000 UTCIn the video I mention that, when this accident took place, Captain David Cronin was just about to retire. I was curious about what happened to him after Flight 811, and so did a little digging to see where he ended up.
He did indeed retire shortly after the disastrous flight, but his performance during the emergency had been so good that it lead the Federal Aviation Administration to consider raising the mandatory retirement age. After much consideration, they finally did so in 2007.
Mr Cronin continued to fly, but competitively rather than for work. He took part in the Reno National Championship Air Races for several years, and then later supported those same races by working security. He had four daughters, and lived happily to the age of 81 – a very well-earned retirement!
Comments
Fascinating Horror
Absolutely - something he was likely only able to do thanks to his years of experience. Good thing they changed the mandatory retirement age in the end!
Angela Schwartz
It's crazy to think that pilots used to have a mandatory retirement at age 50. Sully Sullenberger was well over 50 when the Miracle on the Hudson happened!
Fascinating Horror
That's an interesting coincidence. It takes a while to put together a video, so I don't think I'd have this ready for October 31st this year... but it certainly be a very neat thing if I could!
Michael Rutherford
How about a video on Western Airlines Flight 2605? Similar to the crash of Singapore Airlines Flight 006, WAL Flight 2605 crashed into construction equipment after going to the wrong runway. The difference being that while 006 taxied to and then tried taking off from the wrong runway, Flight 2605 actually landed on the wrong runway instead. Coincidentally, both flights crashed on October 31, albeit in different years. Flight 2605 was in 1979 while Flight 006 was in 2000. BTW, October 31 is on a Tuesday this year. Just saying. :)
