The prestigious Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators in Britain has given one of its highest honors to the crew of a DHL Airbus A300 who landed the plane (stuck in the trim position for climbout) apparently using only the thrust from the engines to control pitch, attitude and direction. The pilots, Capt. Eric Genotte, First Officer Steeve Michielson and Flight Engineer Mario Rofail, were presented the Hugh Gordon-Burge Award, which is for outstanding airmanship in saving an aircraft. As AVweb showed you earlier this year, the Airbus made a spectacular — and safe — landing in Baghdad about 25 minutes after being hit by a missile while taking off. At the time, news of the miraculous landing was the stuff of urban legend and there was much speculation about its veracity. The award and its narrative seem to clear up any doubt that this was an impressive piece of flying. Hats off to the winners from AVweb and its 130,000 subscribers world wide.
Pilots Of Missile-Struck Plane Honored
Key Takeaways:
- A DHL Airbus A300 crew was honored with the prestigious Hugh Gordon-Burge Award for an extraordinary landing after their plane was hit by a missile during takeoff from Baghdad.
- The crew, Capt. Eric Genotte, First Officer Steeve Michielson, and Flight Engineer Mario Rofail, successfully landed the aircraft using only engine thrust to control pitch and direction, due to damage that locked the trim.
- The award from the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators validates the "miraculous landing" that was previously doubted and considered an urban legend, recognizing their outstanding airmanship in saving the aircraft.
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