The “hero” business is as old as aviation itself. Every crash supposedly involves the heroic pilot steering the doomed machine away from people. I think it was Chuck Yeager who commented on this, stating how ludicrous it was.

WH904. Have you ever considered that the use of this is more for the sale of comforting families and friends. For a husband and wife to have a died a ‘hero’ might be something that maybe helps in years to come. Just a thought. It’s the same when a soldier dies and we hear about what a hero and good person the deceased was. They can’t all be can they but it would be bad form to write anything other in most peoples eyes.