US Fighter Jet crashes in San Diego kills man's family - man does not blame pilot - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Phanuthier · 12-10-2008, 03:23 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/09/mil...ash/index.html

This is sort of old news in a way, but the fighter jet that crashed in San Diego, killing his wife, 2 young children (including 15 month old) and mother in law, commented today.

Quote:

"Please pray for him not to suffer from this accident," a distraught Dong Yun Yoon told reporters gathered near the site of Monday's crash of an F/A-18D jet in San Diego's University City community.

"He is one of our treasures for the country," Yoon said in accented English punctuated by long pauses while he tried to maintain his composure.

"I don't blame him. I don't have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could," said Yoon, flanked by members of San Diego's Korean community, relatives and members from the family's church.

It just breaks my heart to hear a story like this. I'm also incredibly impressed the man has been able to step back and not blame the pilot for this.

(Fighter jet pilots, obviously, are among the finest pilots in the world. Generally, almost all mistakes are mechanical and not a pilots mistake. I feel bad for the pilot as well.)

Bagor · 12-10-2008, 03:42 PM

Just watched the video of his press conference. That is truly heart breaking.

To just have what is basically everything that you live for taken away from you in an instance is unfathomable.

What was chilling was the sound of the jets in the background as the conference was going on. You could just see everyone being aware of what they were.

Phanuthier · 12-10-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagor

Just watched the video of his press conference. That is truly heart breaking.

To just have what is basically everything that you live for taken away from you in an instance is unfathomable.

What was chilling was the sound of the jets in the background as the conference was going on. You could just see everyone being aware of what they were.

Yup it was. But even moreso then then having your entire young family taken away from you, the ability for him to not blame the pilot is just... incredible.

habernac · 12-10-2008, 03:46 PM

the pilot will torment himself forever anyway, that's worse than any punishment anyone can dish out at this point.

ken0042 · 12-10-2008, 03:57 PM

When I first heard about the crash I wondered why the pilot ejected- so many times I've seen stories of fighter jets crashing and the pilot sacrificing himself so that he could at least control the plane enough to hit a street instead of a house.

Maybe the plane was so uncontrollable that he had no other choice.

I was in SD a few weeks ago for the Sunday night NFL game. A couple of F-18s did a flyby after the anthem- I wonder if it was one of the same pilots.

Prototype · 12-10-2008, 04:10 PM

I read about this today, that they found the remains of the Family's 15 month old child in the wreckage.

With a 10 month old at home, I know for a fact I would not have the same opinion of the situation as this gentleman does, but I highly commend him for doing so.

Russic · 12-10-2008, 04:16 PM

I would want to have this guys attitude but I just don't know if I would or not. Such a horrible situation for everybody involved.

FlamesAddiction · 12-10-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

When I first heard about the crash I wondered why the pilot ejected- so many times I've seen stories of fighter jets crashing and the pilot sacrificing himself so that he could at least control the plane enough to hit a street instead of a house.

Maybe the plane was so uncontrollable that he had no other choice.

I was in SD a few weeks ago for the Sunday night NFL game. A couple of F-18s did a flyby after the anthem- I wonder if it was one of the same pilots.

I was on another another forum a long time where some guys who claimed to be air force pilots were joking around how they would purposely buzz over residential areas because they thought it was funny. And wasn't there a case in Italy a few years ago and it turned out to be pilot error?

I don't know if anyone knows the facts about this situation, but I wouldn't be so quick to not blame the pilot.

4X4 · 12-10-2008, 04:26 PM

I read an article on google news about this and according to the guy that was right there where the pilot landed after ejecting, the first words out of the pilot's mouth were "I hope I didn't kill anybody".

This is really sad. Three generations of a family gone. I don't have a wife or kids, so I'm not qualified to speculate on how the husband must feel, but I feel bad for the guy. That is brutal.
And the freakishness of the accident. I mean, it's even sadder than the guy that got killed by the helicopter. Just really, really sad.

Locke · 12-10-2008, 04:29 PM

He probably forgave him because he managed to get the mother-in-law.

A really horribly unlucky thing to happen to him though. I have to admit, hes being a pretty big man about it. I definitely would not be able to cope nearly as well, and I applaud him for that.

Table 5 · 12-10-2008, 04:34 PM

A few years ago my parents had this family over for dinner who had recently immigrated to Canada, and needed a little help. They seemed like a great family, with very hard working kids and parents who worked multiple jobs to keep things together.

One day, the mom and two kids were driving to a birthday lunch for their son (who had brought a friend along), when she ran through an intersection and into the path of an oncoming truck. All of mom, daughter, son, son's friend, and the driver of the truck were killed.....leaving only the dad, who had been at work at the time. It was an extremely sad situation to be left in. (some people might remember the story on the news, it happened in Lethbridge).

A while ago I was wondering what happened to the father since then, and asked my parents. Apparently the father hung on for about a year, and then committed suicide....he just couldn't take it anymore.

This recent news event reminded me of all this. Awful stuff.

Locke · 12-10-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

A few years ago my parents had this family over for dinner who had recently immigrated to Canada, and needed a little help. They seemed like a great family, with very hard working kids and parents who worked multiple jobs to keep things together.

One day, the mom and two kids were driving to a birthday lunch for their son (who had brought a friend along), when she ran through an intersection and into the path of an oncoming truck. All of mom, daughter, son, son's friend, and the driver of the truck were killed.....leaving only the dad, who had been at work at the time. It was an extremely sad situation to be left it (some people might remember the story on the news, it happened in Lethbridge).

A while ago I was wondering what happened to the father since then, and asked my parents. Apparently the father hung on for about a year, and then committed suicide....he just couldn't take it anymore.

This recent news event reminded me of all this. Awful stuff.

That is one of the saddest things I have ever heard.

habernac · 12-10-2008, 04:42 PM

I really don't know what I'd do if the same thing happened to my family. I can't imagine, and I hope I never have to find out.

ericschand · 12-10-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

When I first heard about the crash I wondered why the pilot ejected- so many times I've seen stories of fighter jets crashing and the pilot sacrificing himself so that he could at least control the plane enough to hit a street instead of a house.

Maybe the plane was so uncontrollable that he had no other choice.

He was at low altitude with both engines lost. It has been described as a very
fast moving brick at that point, there is little to no control. The pilot was aiming for
a nearby canyon, perhaps a few hundred metres away. He tried and hung
in as long as he could. He is in the hospital, but there seems to no info as
to why. (Physical? The stresses on an ejection seat can break your bones.
Unlike in movies or cartoons, they are designed to get you out of the aircraft
with forces of 15g or so. Mental? Both?)

The quote that makes me wonder why it's so dusty in here, "I know there are many people who have experienced more terrible things," Yoon said. "But, please, tell me how to do it. I don't know what to do."

Very terrible and his quotes indicate a strong man.

ers

Thor · 12-10-2008, 08:24 PM

I've always had great admiration for those victims of tragedy or crime can forgive those responsible for their suffering.

Nehkara · 12-10-2008, 09:04 PM

From what I have read the pilot was had lost one engine and was trying to limp back to the airbase when he lost the other one. He hung on as long as he could and aimed his plane for a bush-filled ravine nearby but he couldn't keep it airborne long enough. He ejected (apparently) less than 200 feet up according to witnesses which I imagine would have only been mere moments before the crash.

As for the husband and father, I hope that he can find a way to move on and am in awe of his ability to forgive that which for many would be unforgivable, whether or not it was the pilot's fault.

CaptainCrunch · 12-10-2008, 09:21 PM

When some of these more advanced fighters lose engines, they lose power to their flight systems and their planes become almost unflyable.

The Pilot probably held onto his ride as long as he could but he has an altitude limit for ejecting.

I feel terrible for everyone involved, the father of the family who saw it all wiped out, and the pilot who will probably not only never forgive himself, but will probably not want to climb into a cockpit again.

HotHotHeat · 12-10-2008, 09:56 PM

I just saw the statement he made on CNN. I can quite honestly say I've never been so touched by a news story in my whole life....Very special human being.