…….
He probably also thinks the Air Transat crew were heroes. And the Air Canada glider crew. And the Delta crew that shut down both engines. And the Southwest crew that was flying around naked.

Next, he will probably start quoting the leadership principles he learned “at the academy.”

Never before or since? How bout the successful flight test program where Douglas flew an MD-11 using engine power alone controlled by autopilot inputs for just such an eventuality? True, it was only a flight test program, but doesn’t that qualify as “since?”

The other incidents you cite are totaly different situations, completely and utterly different, aside from the fact they feature aircraft in dire distress. Neither of them had damaged controls and all three were crew error, either by the pilots or ground crew.
You’re taking an apple and comparing it to an orange. This shows the utter ignorance in your posts.

The MD-11 flight test you cite was conducted with a special software and control program that allowed the flight crew to fly the plane using thrust only. It was a highly controlled test with all sorts of backups in place. (whats more it was years after the incident with all sorts of Data used from the accident to make the software possible)

The crew of United 232 had NO such luxury. They invented a new way to fly the DC-10, literally on the wing. They had not computers with data to fall back on, no one on the ground talking to them about what to do. Nothing. (ok they were talking to United mechanics, but they too were utterly helpless)

You cannot compare these actualy crash and a flight test of new software 20 years later. They’re as different as can be. One was controlled, the other was a never before encountered emergency situation. In trying to compare them, you yet again show ignorance.