PASS Commends Safety Specialists Swift Action at Crash Site

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier this month, Brent Castleberry and David Davis, members of the Professional Aviation SafetySpecialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), arrived at Fort Worth Spinks Airport to perform

routine maintenance work on runway approach lights. Instead, the Fort Worth System Support Center (SSC) specialists witnessed a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle crash while attempting to return to the airport after the plane door flew open leaving the two occupants badly burned and in distress.

Fortunately, Castleberry and Davis, who normally would have been working at the impact zone, were on their way to another location, narrowly avoiding the crash site when it occurred. The two men sprung into action to aid and assist the seriously burned and wounded passengers and worked with first responders to get the men immediate medical attention until they were air lifted to the hospital.

Castleberry and Davis, who have worked together for two years at the SSC, credited their backgrounds as military veterans for their quick response to the crash. Castleberry served in the Air Force, and Davis served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. They also serve as safety liaisons in the SSC, where they share their knowledge of safely performing their jobs with other FAA employees. "We were both compelled by the fact that we are veterans," Davis said. "That's why we responded the way we did. We knew we had to be over there in a couple of minutes if we had any chance of helping someone." "PASS is extremely proud of Brent Castleberry and David Davis for the actions they took that day to save lives," said PASS National President Tom Brantley. "These two men embody the mission of federal employees who work tirelessly for the public every day.  We commend Brent and David for their quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety and health of the two injured passengers."

For more information or questions, please contact Kori Blalock Keller at (202) 293-7277 x110.

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For 36 years, PASS has represented more than 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures and perform quality analyses of the aviation systems. For more information, visit the PASS website at www.passnational.org.

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