Dec 27

Dec 27 Downed But Never Out

Prince George’s Suite Exclusive: How A Joint Base Andrews AFB Pilot Saved The Day In Prince George’s

On April 5, as he flew his F-16 fighter jet at over 500 mph over Old Town in Alexandria, Va., DC Air National Guard Pilot Johnathan "Holster" Morgan noticed significant engine failure. As the $18 million aircraft continued to unravel and lose thrust, Capt. Morgan knew there was no way he’d get back to the base the same way he left it.

But for Capt. Morgan, a Boston, Mass. native, it was the fastest, most fearsome adrenaline-rushed flight of his life. This is his story as recently (photos) told to the Andrews Business and Community Alliance at their holiday luncheon.

The lieutenant had just left the base on practice maneuvers which meant fuel tanks were full and potentially lethal to the neighborhoods below. With only seconds to respond, Morgan dropped the tanks in the Potomac, guided the jet to an open field in Clinton, Md. and ejected safely. Years of planning for such an event meant that first responders on the scene were more than prepared.

After ejecting safely from the doomed aircraft, Morgan's first question to those who came to his aid was with regard to the safety of the communities he'd just skirted at low altitude. "Is everybody OK?" he questioned before he was completely free of his parachute.

There was no loss of life or significant property damage.