Pilot Honored for Averting Crash, Saving Aircraft

A Navy Reserve pilot whose F/A-18 Super Hornet was damaged by a midair lightning strike received the Air Medal for saving his plane, even though he was disoriented. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Cmdr. Abaxes “Chili” Williams was flying over the Gulf of Mexico on July 18 when the lighting hit his plane. Even though he likely suffered from a lack of oxygen and had trouble thinking clearly because of the jolt, Williams finally guided the plane to a safe arrested landing at Naval Air Station Belle Chasse, La., 25 minutes later. By averting a crash, he averted a potential catastrophe had the plane landed the densely populated coastal area.