The Real Hero of Flight 4U5925

The Real Hero of Flight 4U5925

There is one name that is prominent in the downing of German Wings flight 4U5925. A co-pilot – accused of deliberately crashing 80 tons of metal into a mountainside.

But little has been said about Patrick Sondheimer, the captain who so desperately tried to save the jet, and all those onboard – left in the shadows.

There are no photos of Patrick. No face to put to his apparent final words “Open the damn door! For God sake, open the door!”

Only, he didn’t. The young, German, co-pilot placed an oxygen mask over his face and sat in complete silence as the plane descended rapidly into the French Alps, while Captain Sondheimer desperately fought to break the cockpit door down with an axe.

(PIC – depo.ba)

I have deliberately not named the accused in this article, preferring to focus on the valiant efforts of a true hero.

Surely, for a man whose last living act was selflessly trying to save the lives of 149 people on board his aircraft – there should be more credit. 149 people got on that plane that morning, some returning home – some on business, and others taking in a little holiday time – placed their trust in the two people in the cockpit, and Sondheimer was the one that kept their trust till the end.

It has been reported that the accused once said; “I will do something and be remembered forever.” And this, with the media coverage, delving into a troubled personal life, and repeatedly printing his name are giving him exactly what he wanted.

The real onus, the true hero in the story – is the man who in his final moments – still cared more about the people who trusted him.