Three Northwest Airlines pilots receive Superior Airmanship Award

Three Northwest Airlines pilots have received a Superior Airmanship Award from their union, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Captain Dennis Leighton, First Officer Edward Sparks and Second Officer David Kritzer, received the award at the 54th Annual Air Safety and Security Week awards banquet on last week in Washington D.C.

The Superior Airmanship Award was given for the pilots' actions as crew on a flight from Taipei, during which they experienced a triple Inertial Navigation System (INS) failure. The crew, left with only standby instruments in low IFR conditions, safely landed the Boeing 747-200 after four attempts.

ALPA said, "Their performance and professionalism during a high pressure and dangerous situation is to be commended."