I am fortunate to have at my side some of the best professionals in the business. My copilots have pointed out the radio calls I’ve missed, the checklist items I’ve overlooked and the wrong taxiways I’ve almost turned onto, and in general, offered diplomatic suggestions to correct the errors of my ways. They have flown flawless approaches and taken command in my absence. But mostly, my first officers have been the locknut of the bolt that holds the cockpit together. And for the month of January, I had the honor of flying with a bona fide hero.
Jumpseat: Flying with a Hero
Key Takeaways:
- The article recounts the heroic actions of copilot Kent Thorpe who, on American Airlines Flight 63 in December 2001, assertively intervened to subdue Richard Reid, the infamous "shoe bomber."
- During the chaotic incident, Kent, then a relief copilot, took command of the cabin, helped restrain Reid, discovered the explosive device in his shoes, and orchestrated the necessary response until the flight diverted to Boston.
- The author, flying with Kent 15 years later, highlights Kent's crucial, though often unpublicized, role in averting a major post-9/11 tragedy that would have further devastated the airline industry and economy, praising the quiet heroism of copilots.
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