Jim Tucker according to a reconstruction in a documentary about the case of FedEx flight 705. Photo/photograph
The history of FedEx Flight 705, which on April 7, 1994 was due to travel from Memphis to San Jose, California, has had a prominent place among the most violent events in contemporary aviation history.
What happened on that flight was part of a television episode, several books and high honor for its crew: Captain David Sanders, First Officer Jim Tucker and Flight Engineer Andy Peterson.
He also jailed, with a life sentence, the FedEx flight engineer, Auburn Callowaywhose goal is to control the plane and overthrow it. One of the hypotheses was that he did this so that his family could collect his life insurance policy, but nothing happened according to plan.
According to a 2007 review of the case by the Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, Calloway’s goal was more ambitious: he wanted to crash the plane at FedEx headquarters.
Jim Tucker. The pilot who became the hero. Photo/Facebook Jim Tucker.
What happened to FedEx Flight 705
It all started on April 7 when Calloway boarded the plane before the crew was included a guitar case with lots of hammer, knife and rifle.
Pilots Tucker, Sanders and Petersonwho never suspected the trial they would experience, thought that Calloway was just an employee doing hitch-hiking, or a “jump-seater” in aviation parlance. That is, someone delivered for free.
However, the pilots were changing partners every day so it never crossed their minds to refuse Calloway to board a plane to go to the West Coast.
The removal of the DC-10 became normalwith a relaxed conversation between the crew, according to a transcript of a recording in the cockpit.
The plane of the tragedy continued in activity for several years after the tragedy.
However, Calloway’s fierce attack changed everything within minutes. He hit the crew with a hammer. The first blow is given to Tucker and caused a fracture of the skull.
“He’s going to kill us,” Sanders said, according to the cockpit recording, after Calloway started punching everyone.
The crew stopped in pain when Calloway came out of the cabin to find his rifle in the guitar case. At that point, Peterson and Sanders got up from their seats and tried to stop the attacker.
“It’s a real gun, I’ll kill you if you don’t do what I said, I swear it,” Calloway ordered.
What the attacker did not say was that airline pilots were trained for hijacking situations. However, this preparation is based on controlling the situation and to argue with the kidnapper.
“This is not a situation where we can talk, that does not help us, we have to fight for our lives from the first moment.Peterson recalled. So he and Sanders decided to fight for survival.
The route will be covered by flight 705: between Memphis and San José, California.
The first pushed Calloway to apply a few punches. Something he had only recently achieved, partly, when the second joined. Meanwhile, still relatively mobile after the hit, Tucker alerted the Memphis Air Traffic Control Center to what was happening. Something unusual for its state.
then, Tucker performed dangerous aerial maneuvers using the DC-10 to get Calloway out of balance. The injured pilot rotated the plane in mid -flight and took the situation to the limit while losing control of his own body as he did it all with a skull fracture.
“Tucker saved our lives, what he did on that plane I still can’t believe,” Sanders said of his partner’s outrageous maneuver.
Tucker then brought the plane to its usual position and called the control center for an ambulance and a support of security forces to control Calloway who, after the plane’s maneuver, hit his head.
Controlling the attacker, Sanders forced the plane to land on a Memphis runway.
“We’re declaring an emergency, we need security to meet the plane, we stop it on the tarmac if possible,” Sanders said according to the transcript.
“FedEx705, yes, all of that is taken care of, that security is available along with medical help“, traffic control answers.
After landing, “The blood of four men covered the inside of the plane and everything looked like a grenade. “recollection of the airport’s general manager, Larry Cox.
Auburn Calloway. The FedEx Flight 705 attacker.
A paramedic handcuffed Calloway, Judge David Nelson wrote in the “United States vs. Calloway” trial that ended in life imprisonment for the attacker.
Why Calloway’s attack on FedEx Flight 705 happened
The kidnapping took place a day before a disciplinary hearing set by the company for misconduct. This could coast the end for Calloway.
“The company has begun investigating irregularities in Mr. Calloway’s flight times reporting.and was ordered to appear at a hearing scheduled for April 8, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee, ”Judge Nelson wrote.
But there is no guarantee that FedEx will remove Calloway. In fact, there are other versions like the ones mentioned above.
There is also no guarantee that the crew of Flight 705 will take control of Calloway. that according to the investigation, black belt turned out to be in martial arts.
The fate of the FedEx Flight 705 plane
FedEx. The planes are still in circulation with a large fleet of planes. Photo/AP
Twenty-eight years after three crew members of Federal Express Flight 705 resisted a hijacking attempt, the plane scene of that turmoil will continue to fly for the company until 2020.
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10, which debuted on commercial flights in 1985, according to flight recordsremained, after the attack, making flights for FedEx at Memphis International Airport, showing without problems the unexplained marks of its history.
Source: Clarin