Alfred C. Haynes
Encyclopedia
Alfred C. "Al" Haynes is a former airline
pilot and a regular guest speaker at social events. Haynes gained international fame in 1989, when he, together with the rest of his crew and Dennis E. Fitch
, a United DC-10 flight instructor who was a passenger on the flight, limited the loss of life by crash-landing United Airlines Flight 232
, a damaged DC-10 jetliner, at Sioux City Airport
.
Haynes graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas) in 1948, and then attended Texas A&M University
, where he became a member of the university's corps of cadets. Subsequently he entered Navy flight training and was commissioned a Marine Corps aviator.
In 1956 Haynes completed his military service and joined United Airlines
, eventually climbing up the airline's pilots' ranks until he became a captain. He began flying for United as a Boeing 727
first officer, and was later promoted to DC-8 and DC-10 first officer, before becoming a captain on the Boeing 727. Haynes later became a DC-10 captain. As a worker for United, Haynes was based at Seattle, Washington for virtually his entire 35-year career.
On July 19, 1989, Haynes became famous for his role in the events during a DC-10 flight headed to Chicago, Illinois from Denver, Colorado
. With Haynes as captain, the airliner suffered damage to its number two (center) engine which caused all three of its hydraulic control systems to fail—an unprecedented problem that made the aircraft nearly impossible to fly or land. Captain Haynes, first officer Record, flight engineer Dvorak, and Fitch (who had been a passenger on the flight but came forward to offer his help) figured out how to gain some control of the plane. They were eventually able to get the severely disabled airliner to the Sioux City, Iowa
airport, where they crash-landed. A portion of the fuselage ended up in an adjoining corn field. Although there were 112 fatalities, a remarkable 185 people survived the crash
Haynes kept his sense of humor during the emergency, as recorded on the plane's CVR
:
and later:
A more serious remark often quoted from Haynes was made when ATC asked the crew to make a left turn to keep them clear of the city:
After the crash, Haynes continued as an airline pilot until his retirement in 1991. Several United 232 survivors flew as passengers on his final flight as an airline pilot. Haynes received major media attention when Charlton Heston
played him in a 1992 movie A Thousand Heroes. The story of Flight 232 was famous worldwide, and Haynes started speaking about it at lunches and meetings. He also became a post traumatic stress disorder speaker and emergency situations trainer.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Woodrow Wilson High School
Hall of Fame.
In 1996, his oldest son died after a motorcycle accident, and his wife died in 1999. His daughter Laurie Haynes-Arguello (born 1964) gained media attention in 2001 when she was diagnosed with aplastic anemia
. By 2003, her disease was in an advanced stage and she required a bone marrow transplant
. Because his daughter's insurance would not cover the operation, Al Haynes needed help from the Air Line Pilots Association, which donated money and brought the Haynes' monetary plight to light. Many survivors of Flight 232 found out about the case and they also helped raise money. Eventually, his daughter was able to get the transplant.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
pilot and a regular guest speaker at social events. Haynes gained international fame in 1989, when he, together with the rest of his crew and Dennis E. Fitch
Dennis E. Fitch
Dennis E. "Denny" Fitch is a retired commercial airline pilot. He is best known for his critical actions as an off-duty DC-10 training captain who helped captain Al Haynes minimize loss of life on United Airlines Flight 232 when all flight controls were lost, on July 19, 1989...
, a United DC-10 flight instructor who was a passenger on the flight, limited the loss of life by crash-landing United Airlines Flight 232
United Airlines Flight 232
United Airlines Flight 232 was a scheduled flight from Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, with continuing service to Philadelphia International Airport...
, a damaged DC-10 jetliner, at Sioux City Airport
Sioux Gateway Airport
-History:The construction of Sioux City Army Air Base began in March 1942, about three months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Opened on 5 July 1942, it became a major training center during World War II for crew members of B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses...
.
Haynes graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas) in 1948, and then attended Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, where he became a member of the university's corps of cadets. Subsequently he entered Navy flight training and was commissioned a Marine Corps aviator.
In 1956 Haynes completed his military service and joined United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, eventually climbing up the airline's pilots' ranks until he became a captain. He began flying for United as a Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
first officer, and was later promoted to DC-8 and DC-10 first officer, before becoming a captain on the Boeing 727. Haynes later became a DC-10 captain. As a worker for United, Haynes was based at Seattle, Washington for virtually his entire 35-year career.
On July 19, 1989, Haynes became famous for his role in the events during a DC-10 flight headed to Chicago, Illinois from Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. With Haynes as captain, the airliner suffered damage to its number two (center) engine which caused all three of its hydraulic control systems to fail—an unprecedented problem that made the aircraft nearly impossible to fly or land. Captain Haynes, first officer Record, flight engineer Dvorak, and Fitch (who had been a passenger on the flight but came forward to offer his help) figured out how to gain some control of the plane. They were eventually able to get the severely disabled airliner to the Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
airport, where they crash-landed. A portion of the fuselage ended up in an adjoining corn field. Although there were 112 fatalities, a remarkable 185 people survived the crash
Haynes kept his sense of humor during the emergency, as recorded on the plane's CVR
Cockpit voice recorder
A cockpit voice recorder , often referred to as a "black box", is a flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents...
:
- Fitch: I'll tell you what, we'll have a beer when this is all done.
- Haynes: Well I don't drink, but I'll sure as hell have one.
and later:
- Sioux City Approach: United Two Thirty-Two Heavy, the wind's currently three six zero at one one; three sixty at eleven. You're cleared to land on any runway.
- Haynes: [laughter] Roger. [laughter] You want to be particular and make it a runway, huh?
A more serious remark often quoted from Haynes was made when ATC asked the crew to make a left turn to keep them clear of the city:
- Whatever you do, keep us away from the city.
After the crash, Haynes continued as an airline pilot until his retirement in 1991. Several United 232 survivors flew as passengers on his final flight as an airline pilot. Haynes received major media attention when Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
played him in a 1992 movie A Thousand Heroes. The story of Flight 232 was famous worldwide, and Haynes started speaking about it at lunches and meetings. He also became a post traumatic stress disorder speaker and emergency situations trainer.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Woodrow Wilson High School
Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas)
Woodrow Wilson High School is a public secondary school located at 100 South Glasgow Drive in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas, Texas in the ZIP code 75214. It was named in honor of former U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, who died just three years before the school building was completed...
Hall of Fame.
In 1996, his oldest son died after a motorcycle accident, and his wife died in 1999. His daughter Laurie Haynes-Arguello (born 1964) gained media attention in 2001 when she was diagnosed with aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The condition, per its name, involves both aplasia and anemia...
. By 2003, her disease was in an advanced stage and she required a bone marrow transplant
Bone marrow transplant
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cell or blood, usually derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, or umbilical cord blood...
. Because his daughter's insurance would not cover the operation, Al Haynes needed help from the Air Line Pilots Association, which donated money and brought the Haynes' monetary plight to light. Many survivors of Flight 232 found out about the case and they also helped raise money. Eventually, his daughter was able to get the transplant.