Polish pilot hailed as a hero after emergency landing

THE Polish pilot hailed as a hero for his smooth emergency landing of a Boeing airliner remained modest yesterday in his first public appearance, saying he felt “huge relief” once his passengers evacuated the plane, but wondered whether he could have done better.

Capt Tadeusz Wrona landed the plane on its belly at Warsaw international airport after its landing gear failed, gaining instant hero status in Poland.

“When I stopped on the runway, I still was not sure that everyone was safe because smoke and some burning from friction appeared on the ground,” Wrona told reporters at a news conference. “I felt huge relief when the head flight attendant reported that the plane was empty.”