Al Haynes

Alfred Clair Haynes (August 31, 1931 – August 25, 2019) was an American airline pilot who flew for United Airlines for 35 years. In 1989 he came to international attention as the captain of United Airlines Flight 232, which crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, after suffering a total loss of controls. Having recovered and returned to service as a pilot, Haynes retired from United Airlines in 1991, and subsequently became a public speaker for aviation safety.

Early life Al Haynes was born on August 31, 1931, at the family home in Paris, Texas. Haynes graduated from Texas A&M College (now Texas A&M University) prior to joining the United States Marine Corps. He became a first lieutenant and was an instructor pilot. He served until 1956 and then joined United Airlines, which was his employer for the next 35 years. He retired in 1991.

Career

Military career

Haynes lost his draft deferment while taking a semester off from Texas A&M, while the United States was engaged in the Korean War, and decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps. For most of his career with United Airlines he served as a flight engineer or co-pilot, refusing offers of promotion, because they would have required relocating from Seattle.

Haynes resumed flight duty after his recovery.

Career after United Airlines

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 more than 33 years and a stadium announcer for high school football for more than 25 years.

He was referred to as a hero, but refused to say he was one. He gave all the credit to the flight attendants, who he believed did not receive enough credit for the work they did.

Awards Smithsonian Wall of Honor

Death Haynes died on August 25, 2019, in a Seattle hospital after a brief illness, six days before his 88th birthday. United Airlines issued a statement thanking him for "his exceptional efforts aboard Flight UA232".

In popular culture American actor Charlton Heston portrayed Captain Al Haynes in the TV film A Thousand Heroes (1992). Captain Al Haynes appeared in the documentary Seconds from Disaster Season 2: Episode 7 (2005) called "Crash Landing at Sioux City" as well as the episode "Crisis in the Cockpit" (Season 2, Episode 1) of Why Planes Crash. Canadian actor Stewart Arnott portrayed Captain Al Haynes in the Canadian TV series Mayday Season 11: Episode 13 (2012) called "Impossible Landing" and Air Crash Investigation Special Report Season 3: Episode 8 (2020) called "Courage in the Cockpit".