Three U.S. Navy pilots were awarded the Armed Forces’ Air Medal this month for saving their plane as it slid off the deck of the USS Eisenhower in March, Fox News reported Monday.
The pilots–Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Browning, Lt. Cmdr. Kellen Smith, and Lt. Matthew Halliwell–were awarded the medal on board the Eisenhower. Halliwell was not at the ceremony because he is currently an instructor for the Navy teaching pilots.
The incident occurred on March 18, when the pilots’ E2-C Hawkeye aircraft was landing on the deck of the USS Eisenhower. The cable snapped, causing the plane to head to the water. The pilots were able to save the plane at the last second, and the E2-C Hawkeye can be scene reascending in the video. The plane had gotten approximately ten feet from the water.
As the plane slips off the edge of the deck in the video, crew members can be seen running in different directions to respond. However, when the plane reappears, visible signs of relief can be seen from the crew.
Eight sailors were injured in the incident, some severely. The Navy has ruled that human error was the cause of the incident due to improper maintenance.