Trump commends crew, passengers on Southwest Flight 1380 for "tremendous bravery"
President Trump hailed crew and passengers aboard Southwest Airlines flight 1380 for their "great character" and quick reactions after the jet apparently blew an engine and got hit by shrapnel from the engine, smashing a window and damaging the fuselage last month. The incident killed one passenger and injured seven others.
The plane, a Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia as passengers breathing through oxygen masks that dropped from the ceiling prayed and braced for impact. Mr. Trump said members of the crew "displayed exemplary leadership" in executing the emergency landing.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt said it was the first passenger fatality in a U.S. airline accident since 2009. "Our hearts break for the family of the passenger who tragically lost their life," said Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump singled out the pilot, Captain Tammie Jo Shults, as doing an "incredible job" landing the plane, saying she drew from "years of training and safety" in the military.
Shults was hailed as a hero and praised for her "nerves of steel" in helping to prevent what could have been a far worse tragedy. She was among the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy.
"You knew how to land that plane -- we salute you and every member of this crew," said the president.
As the event came to a close, Mr. Trump said it was "very nice" of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to suggest he should win the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "We want to get peace," the president said.
He also said that details on location and a date for the U.S.-North Korea summit should be announced in the next "couple of days."
On whether or not he plans on visiting Jerusalem, Mr. Trump responded that he "may" but he's "not sure."
