Tuesday, August 2, 2016

HEROIC CAPTAIN OF PHILIPPINE AIRLINES - Pal Flight 434 Captain Eduardo Reyes - Captain Ed was flying PAL Flight 434 on December 11, 1994 en route to Tokyo from the Philippines. A notorious terrorist had gotten on board in Manila, left an improvised bomb underneath his seat, and disembarked in Cebu. The explosion killed the Japanese man directly seated above the bomb and injured 10 more in the surrounding seats. The aircraft skin was not compromised or they would have been sucked out. However, vital controls were damaged. The plane did not respond to left, right, up and down controls and they needed to make a turn and make an emergency landing at Naha Airport. A few feet above touchdown, the captain gave his last command to "PULL" as he guided the plane down successfully.

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Heroic Captain Of Philippine Airlines
ComendadorPal Flight 434 Captain Eduardo Reyes
Have you heard of the heroic Captain Eduardo Reyes? Captain Ed was a pilot who saved Philippine Airlines Flight 434 and its passengers.
That fateful day of December 11, 1994, Captain Ed was flying PAL Flight 434 en route to Tokyo from the Philippines.
He had just assured the passengers of "a beautiful day in Tokyo" when there was later on a sudden violent explosion.
A notorious terrorist had gotten on board in Manila, left an improvised bomb underneath his seat, and disembarked in the Cebu stop (the terrorist Ramzi Yousef would later be convicted for the Flight 434 bombing and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing).
The explosion killed the Japanese man directly seated above the bomb and injured 10 more in the surrounding seats.
Luckily, the aircraft skin was not compromised or they would have been sucked out. However, vital controls were damaged.
The plane did not respond to left, right, up and down controls and they needed to make a turn and make an emergency landing at Naha Airport. 
The captain and his crew tried different tactics even going so far as disengaging autopilot and going on manual control.
However, the explosion had damaged the ailerons (for turning left and right), the elevators (for climb and descent) and the rudders. Captain Ed and crew tried emergency procedures in their QRH (pilot's bible) but nothing worked.
Finally, the captain decided to try using the plane's thrusters to turn. This was not in their handbook.
It was a feat of skill to turn and land the plane in its damaged state.
Flight Engineer Dexter Comendador monitored their speed while co-pilot Jimmy Herrera was pushing and pulling the elevator controls as per the captain's orders.
At one point, Herrera had both feet up on the instrument panel as the captain commanded "pull some more.”
A few feet above touchdown, the captain gave his last command to "PULL" as he guided the plane down successfully.
The passengers, who had already written their last wills and letters to loved ones all clapped in thanksgiving.
Captain Ed would recall that at the time of the explosion, his thought was "God forgive me, I am going to die.” Instead, he saved the lives of 272 passengers and 20 crew members.
Later, Captain Ed bravely stood as witness to the trial of Ramzi Yousef. His testimony in the 1996 trial helped to put one of the world's most dangerous terrorists in prison for life.
Captain Ed Reyes put down his wings in 2002 and passed away of prostate cancer on the eve of Valentines day 2007.
Sources: New York Daily News, National Geographic documentary "Bomb on Board" on Mayday show series, Wind Beneath My Wings by Phlippine Amateur Radiio Association





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