Quick Facts
Biography
Alfred Clair "Al" Haynes (August 31, 1931 – August 25, 2019) was an American commercial airplane pilot. He flew for United Airlines and was highly regarded for his handling of the Flight 232 crash in Sioux City, Iowa in 1989. He subsequently became a public speaker on aviation safety.
Early life
According to AVWeb, Al Haynes was born in Paris, Texas, on August 31, 1931. He attended Texas A&M College (now Texas A&M University) prior to joining the Navy. After four years in the Navy he joined United Airlines, where he rose through the ranks for the next 35 years. He retired in 1991.
Career
According to NPR, "Haynes is widely seen as a hero among aviation experts, akin to Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his 'miracle on the Hudson.'"
He was also a volunteer umpire for Little League Baseball for over 33 years and a stadium announcer for high school football for more that 25 years. He was an umpire in the 1978 Little League World Series.
He was referred to as a hero, but refused to say he was one. He gave all the credit to the flight attendants, whom he believed did not receive enough credit for the work they did.
Awards (incomplete list)
- Smithsonian Wall of Honor
- Dr. Earl Weiner Award (also awarded to Dr. Henry Heimlich of the Heimlich maneuver).
Death
Haynes died on August 25, 2019 in a Seattle hospital after a brief illness, six days before his eighty-eighth birthday. When Haynes died in August 2019, United Airlines issued a statement thanking him for "his exceptional efforts aboard Flight UA232.