logo
Survivor of 1982 DC plane crash credits pilot school lesson with saving his life

Survivor of 1982 DC plane crash credits pilot school lesson with saving his life

Yahoo08-02-2025

A survivor of a deadly 1982 plane crash into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., says the Jan. 29 plane collision brought back memories of his unlikely survival more than 40 years ago.
The recent collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 with an Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk over the Potomac killed every person aboard both aircraft, a total of 64 people. The collision had some jarring similarities to the Jan. 13, 1982, crash that killed 78 people.
Joseph Stiley, 86, is one of five people who survived that disaster, when Air Florida Flight 90 left what is now Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) and struck the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., at which point it crashed into the icy Potomac.
"The memories just make me realize how lucky I am. I did what I had to do, and it worked," Stiley told People. "I also say to myself, 'Joe, you've analyzed, and you made a decision, and then it kept you alive.'"
Army Saw Spike In Deadly Aviation Crashes Year Before Dc Plane Crash Disaster
Siley was a licensed pilot at the time and knew to curl into a ball as passengers braced for impact while others sat straight up, he recalled.
Read On The Fox News App
"I was a busy flight instructor, and I specialize in teaching aeronautics and instruments. ... I went through a survival school for pilots," Stiley told People. "I knew we were in deep s--- before we were off the runway."
Victims Identified In Dc Plane Crash Involving American Airlines Jet And Military Helicopter
The 86-year-old broke 60 bones in the crash and remains handicapped to this day.
"I wrapped myself in a little ball and got down and put my back against the seat in front of me with my hands over my head," he told the outlet. "All the fingers on my left hand and a couple of them on my right hand got broken, so it was a good thing I had my fingers where they were."
Dc Plane Crash Timeline: Midair Collision Involves 67 Passengers, Crew Members, Soldiers
At the time of the Flight 90 disaster, Stiley was working for General Telephone & Electronics, and his assistant, the late Patricia Felch, was on the flight with him. Felch also miraculously survived.
Stiley said he lost consciousness when the plane made impact with the Potomac but awoke when he felt water entering his nose and mouth. The plane had cracked open near his seat, and he told Felch to hold onto his leg as they fled the destroyed aircraft.
Along the way, he grabbed another survivor, Priscilla Tirado, who lost her son and baby in the crash, according to People.
Dc Plane Crash: Airport Employees Arrested Over Leaked Video Of Midair Collision
"She was looking for her baby, who was the last body recovered all the way down in the Chesapeake Bay a week later," Stiley said.
When asked his thoughts on the recent D.C. collision, Stiley told People his "heart goes out to all the families, and it goes out to those that died.
"My biggest concern now is for the probable children that have just lost a parent ... and, of course, the spouses," he told the outlet.
WATCH: VIDEO APPEARS TO SHOW MIDAIR PLANE CRASH AT DCA
The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the Jan. 29 collision of the American Airlines passenger flight and military Black Hawk. There have been at least 238 deaths and 227 injuries from non-combat U.S. military aircraft crashes since 2012, according to the FAA.
There have also been multiple "close call" incidents at DCA since 2023.Original article source: Survivor of 1982 DC plane crash credits pilot school lesson with saving his life

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fort Riley museums may close amid Army's operational review
Fort Riley museums may close amid Army's operational review

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Fort Riley museums may close amid Army's operational review

FORT RILEY (KSNT) – The Army's Fort Riley Museum is on a list of over 20 museums to be shuttered; approval for the closing will come in the next few weeks. 27 News reached out to Army Strategic Communications Officer F. Lee Reynolds for more information about the potential closure. According to Reynolds, the Army's decision to close some museums came after extensive review of operational constraints, including staffing limitations, visitor engagement, and facility maintenance costs. 'While some museums will close, their artifacts and historical materials will not be lost; neither will their stories,' Reynolds said. 'They will be carefully preserved and integrated into remaining institutions or stored in Army Museum Support Centers for future use.' Woman behind first-ever Topeka lavender festival hopes to start annual event Reynolds told 27 News that the museums on the list are expected to be closed to the public by the end of September 2027. 'Additionally, efforts are underway to explore partnerships that may allow local communities to continue engaging with Army history in meaningful ways; we will stay engaged with our stakeholders as we develop these partnerships,' Reynolds said. 'We recognize the concerns this decision has generated and remain committed to honoring the Army's legacy.' Kansas ranchers hit hard by cattle theft operations In 2023, the U.S. Cavalry Museum and the 1st Infantry Division Museum reopened after making $17.5 million in renovations. The buildings started the renovations in 2018 with each building getting structural updates, new heating and cooling systems, new lighting and updated technology. The U.S. Cavalry Museum was originally built in 1855 as a post hospital. The 1st Infantry Division Museum was built in 1905. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ft. Eisenhower releases statement about name-change
Ft. Eisenhower releases statement about name-change

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Ft. Eisenhower releases statement about name-change

FT. EISENHOWER, Ga. (WJBF) – Seven Army installations whose names were changed in 2023 because they honored Confederate leaders are all reverting back to their original names, the Army said Tuesday. But to be clear, they are being renamed for different people who were not associated with the confederacy, but have the same last name as the original honoree. Fort Gordon was changed to Fort Eisenhower to commemorate the former president's time leading Allied forces in Europe in World War II. It will now be named for Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon. He was honored for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, where he defended wounded crew members at a helicopter crash site and held off an advancing enemy force. The Cyber Center of Excellence Public Affairs Officer Ms. Lesli Ellis-Wouters, released the following statement on behalf of Ft. Eisenhower. 'As we prepare to receive additional guidance from the Secretary of the Army, we appreciate the support and understanding of our Central Savannah River Area community that has been a stalwart proponent of the installation since its inception in the early 1940s. Our mission remains unchanged in supporting national defense operations and training world-class, highly skilled Signal, Cyber, and EW professionals to fight and win America's wars. We will provide more information as transition timelines are developed and approved. ' Ms. Lesli Ellis-Wouters, Cyber Center of Excellence Public Affairs Officer The six other bases that are scheduled to change names again are Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett and Fort Robert E. Lee in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Polk in Louisiana and Fort Rucker in Alabama. To find out more about what the names will be change to and who they honor, click here. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Passenger defends controversial 'gate lice' behavior as airlines crack down on early boarding attempts
Passenger defends controversial 'gate lice' behavior as airlines crack down on early boarding attempts

Fox News

time10 hours ago

  • Fox News

Passenger defends controversial 'gate lice' behavior as airlines crack down on early boarding attempts

A flight passenger came out in defense of a controversial travel trend, sparking an etiquette debate among flyers. The trend of "gate lice" was widely reported last year when American Airlines began prohibiting people from boarding ahead of their particular seat zone. The airline began using technology that audibly alerts gate agents when passengers are attempting to board ahead of their designated assignment, Fox News Digital reported. Recently, a traveler posted in the "r/delta" forum on Reddit, writing "in defense of gate lice." "Flying out of [Philadelphia] today, and you could not hear [what] the gate agent was saying, 'Now boarding blahblahblah.' What?" read the post. The user admitted he is hard of hearing, but that his wife is not. "We were not alone because everyone was crowding around the gate area trying to understand what this ridiculous woman was saying," the user wrote. "There was a sign that displayed the boarding zones currently allowed to board, but it was facing another gate and not facing where all the gate lice were standing … To read the sign, you have to get in the way of the passengers who are allowed to board! Total madness," the person continued. The user went on to share his grievances about the volume of gate agents and pilots over the speaker. Redditors took to the comments section to discuss their thoughts about "gate lice" and their own experiences with flying. "I stand against the wall facing the gate so I can hear the announcements. I don't consider myself gate lice," commented one user. Another person wrote, "It's the inconsistency that bothers me. Figure out the best way to board planes … then every airport do[es] it exactly the same." "Just a couple of weeks ago, I realized I could not hear a damn thing the gate agent was saying," said one user. "I couldn't see the screens and had to move closer like the dreaded gate lice. But I honestly did not know what they were saying. It was completely inaudible." Other Redditors weighed in on the volume and tone of announcements by gate agents. "I was boarding a flight in Atlanta, and the [gate agent] was muttering incoherently into the microphone and then would turn to the woman beside her and laugh. No one could understand what she was saying," commented a user. Still another person wrote, "All need to learn how to enunciate. Then you don't need to raise your voice as much. Everyone understands clearly spoken words." "I have a hearing impairment … This condition significantly impacts my experience when flying, as I often struggle to hear important announcements from gate agents, especially related to delays or gate changes," shared one user. Another person commented that "[gate agents] don't even care they're announcing over another announcement on top of the PA system being terribly designed." California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told Fox News Digital there have always been passengers who try to get around the general boarding process. "Today, it has become more prevalent," she said. "When caught, instead of admitting to it or shrugging with a clichéd, 'No harm in trying,' they become belligerent, still expecting to have their demands met," Randall said. She added, "Gate lice may have different reasons for jumping ahead of their assigned zone. Other than having a tight connecting flight or traveling with a disabled passenger, wait your turn." Randall also said, "When we don't follow the simple guidelines, airlines are forced to create rules. And, yes, for those of us who try to follow the rules and practice courtesy, it stinks and is frustrating."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store