Posted: 8/7/2014 10:33:57 AM EDT
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Sorry if this dupe of an old thread ...
Fedex Flight 705 Published on Mar 2, 2013 On April 7, 1994, Federal Express Flight 705, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 cargo jet ferrying electronics across the United States from Memphis, Tennessee to San Jose, California, experienced an attempted hijacking for the purpose of a suicide attack. Auburn Calloway, a FedEx employee facing possible dismissal for lying about his previous flying experience, boarded the scheduled flight as a deadheading passenger with a guitar case carrying several hammers and a speargun. He intended to disable the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder before take-off and, once airborne, kill the crew using the blunt force of the hammers so their injuries would appear consistent with an accident rather than a hijacking. The speargun would be a last resort. He would then crash the aircraft while just appearing to be an employee killed in an accident. This would make his family eligible for a $2.5 million life insurance policy paid by Federal Express. Calloway's plan was unsuccessful. Despite severe injuries, the crew was able to fight back, subdue Calloway and land the aircraft safely. An attempt at a mental health defense was unsuccessful and Calloway was subsequently convicted of multiple charges including attempted murder, attempted air piracy and interference with flight crew operations. He received two consecutive life sentences. Calloway's appeal was successful in having his conviction for interference ruled as a lesser included offense of attempted air piracy. he crew members were left with permanent, disabling injuries and have not flown professionally since. 
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Back when I was in CRM class in college we did a case study on that flight. The actions of the crew were the stuff of legend.
If I recall correctly one of the crew just got his medical back and has resumed flying. ETA: According to Wikipedia Tucker is flying under the light sport rules. |
| I saw that crew speak one time at the outdoor pavilion at Oshkosh. Gripping story. You guys ever see the pic of the flight engineers station after it was all over? It was amazing he survived. It was a total bloodbath. Looked like someone just threw a bucket of blood on the gauges and his desk. Damn. |
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I jumpsat on the aircraft involved twice. It's of course been converted to an MD-10 now and looks like any other MD-10.
It was a little strange sitting in there thinking of the fight for life that happened right there and the stresses the aircraft had been through. One of the FOs did mention it was "that plane". |