President Trump on Tuesday praised the pilot and crew of a Southwest Airlines plane that was forced to make an emergency landing last month after one of its engines failed.
The president met with pilot Tammie Jo Shults, First Officer Darren Ellisor, and three Southwest flight attendants, according to the White House. Five passengers also attended the gathering with Trump.
“The actions of the crew and passengers of Southwest flight 1380 show the great character of our nation,” Trump said. “We’re very, very proud of them, and God bless you all and thank you very much for being at the White House. It is really an honor to meet you all. Thank you very much.”
The Southwest flight was traveling from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Dallas last month when one of its engines failed. Debris from the engine hit one of the aircraft’s windows, and one woman was almost sucked out of the plane.
Passengers Andrew Needum and Tim McGinty pulled the woman, Jennifer Riordan, back into the plane’s cabin, and retired nurse Peggy Phillips performed CPR. Riordan later died.
Needum, McGinty, and Phillips were among the passengers who met with Trump at the White House.
Shults was hailed as a hero for calmly and safely landing the plane in Philadelphia. A former Navy pilot who attained the rank of lieutenant commander, Shults was among the first group of women to become fighter pilots in the Navy. She left active duty in 1993 and was in the Navy Reserve until 2001.
A preliminary investigation from the National Transportation Safety Board found a fan blade in the plane’s left engine broke while the plane was in the air.
Following last month’s incident, Shults and Ellisor have remained away from the media spotlight, but did issue a statement.
“We all feel we were simply doing our jobs,” the two said. “Our hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family’s profound loss.”
