Captain Hugo Carvajal and First Officer Robert Bradeen, Jr.

2023 SUPERIOR AIRMANSHIP AWARD

   

Captain Hugo Carvajal and First Officer Robert Bradeen, Jr. are recipients of the 2023 ALPA Superior Airmanship Award in recognition of their professionalism, skill, and judgment while operating FedEx Express Flight 1432 in executing a go-around to avoid collision with another aircraft which was taking off on the same runway.

At approximately 6:40 a.m. on the morning of February 4, 2023, FedEx Express Flight 1432 was on approach for landing to Runway 18L at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Captain Carvajal was flying when First Officer Bradeen, the pilot monitoring, visually identified Southwest Flight 708 approximately 1000 to 1500 feet down the runway, a Boeing 737 with 123 passengers and five crew members onboard. First Officer Bradeen quickly called for a go-around, which Captain Carvajal initiated, returning for a safe landing on Runway 18L.

ALPA recognizes Captain Carvajal and First Officer Bradeen for their superior airmanship – the situational awareness of these two pilots saved 131 souls on both aircraft. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy recognized the crew in public comments, saying that the event could have been catastrophic if not for their heroic efforts. Challenged by operational delays, flying during their window of circadian lows in nautical twilight, and operating into an airport with only 200 feet vertical visibility, this crew maintained vigilance and responded immediately to an extremely dangerous startle event.

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