David Koch was involved in a fiery air crash at LAX in 1991

[ailsagirl]

I was watching a program tonight called "Cleared for Disaster." It's a series of programs about air disasters, what caused them, and how in future that can be remedied. So tonight, as I was watching, I noticed someone named "David Koch" (yes, that David Koch) was one of the passengers on USAir Flight 1349, which landed at LAX on Feb. 1, 1991. Turns out that before actually landing, the 1349 collided with small plane that was taking off (on the same runway) but heading toward 1349. The 1349 plowed into the oncoming plane, slammed against a building, then burst into flames. All 12 passengers died immediately. 1349 was engulfed in flames and the passengers were having great difficulty in getting out of the inferno, as some of the exit doors were either inoperable or in flames. Mr. Koch (a "philanthropist," as he's referred to in Wikipedia, among other things) was interviewed for the program and here is part of what he said. He begins speaking at about 10:19 in the video, but the the most important part is at 13:55, below.

Koch: I suddenly saw a crack of light and I-- God, it was a miracle. Then the crack opened up and I suddenly realized that I had opened the galley door. I said to myself, "What the hell-- jump out!" I landed on the ground and then started crawling on my hands and knees away from the airplane. I had a great sense of guilt--why did I not go back into the airplane and say, "Follow me?" I think if I had gone back in I might have passed out, fallen on the floor, and died. That's how I came to terms with the fact that I got out and didn't help anyone else out.

There were 34 fatalities on the plane Koch was on. Many of the passangers had already removed their seatbelts, and were frantically trying to exit the plane when they succumbed to the toxic smoke.

Now, I wasn't there. I've never been in a plane crash. I can imagine it was a horrific experience. But part of me wondered why he didn't at least try to help the other passangers out. (This I wondered before I even realized who he was.) We hear often of heroes on the scene when terrible disasters happen, and how perfect strangers risk their lives to help others to safety. I wondered why it didn't happen here. (Certainly there were people who were helping others because that's who they are. They don't give it a second thought.)

I don't know. It just left me feeling a little perplexed, the fact that Number One was, of course, first and foremost for Koch, and that the rest would have to take care of themselves. And, sadly, many died trying to.

Wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAir_Flight_1493

YouTube link:

(shows the whole program)

Does this speak to the character of the man? Or am I being too critical?

A "hero" is someone who puts his or her own life or safety at risk, in order to help others.

[2pooped2pop]

1. No, not too critical. You have it exactly right.

Koch, killer of all who are not "ME"

This shows he is exactly the sniveling cowarding asswipe we thought he was.

I think if I had gone back in I might have passed out, fallen on the floor, and died. That's how I came to terms with the fact that I got out and didn't help anyone else out.

You go on telling yourself that Koch Killer and maybe someday you will believe it.

[dballance]

2. As much as I dislike the guy I think you're being too critical

I believe he was being sincere for a change in the interview. We do have that "fight or flight" reaction built in.

There is no way I could possibly predict what I would do in the same situation. I'd likely take the first way out I could find.

I'd love to judge him and call him a bigger bastard for this but just cannot.

[RZM]

3. We would all like to think we would be the hero

And some of us would. A few have. I'd like to think I would. But there are many others who have or would crawl away from a disaster like that. The only real difference between them and David Koch is that none of them have $25 billion.

If heroism were common, it wouldnt be heroism.

[Ikonoklast]

4. It times of great stress, the real person is revealed.

[ailsagirl]

7. I agree absolutely, ikonoklast

[JI7]

15. we don't know, but i think there are those who would feel Guilt, and then there are the Koch types

and of course the hero who would risk their own life.

but of those who wont there are 2 types and Koch is the type who i don't think gives a shit. even if he knew he could go back and help them without hurting himself i don't think he would.

i don't think he feels bad about the lives lost .

[ailsagirl]

5. I can see both your points, but...

repukes aren't generally known to put others' needs before their own. And when a disaster occurs, people tend to bond and help one another. Perhaps the wealthy play by a different set of rules. But then, I don't know any super wealthy. Thank God.

[Son of Gob]

6. Here's the reenactment

[jsmirman]

10. This is a better (longer) clip of that

the last part is amazing:

[Skittles]

8. his "I got mine; fuck you" attitude is life-long

[jsmirman]

9. This is just horrifying

I find the whole thing hard to read about.

But yes, I think it is revealing. Believe me, these guys think they are much more important than anyone else. Even the "nice" brother, who is the family black sheep has this so drilled into his head that he treats everyone around him like serfs.

I fundamentally could not fathom doing this. At a bare minimum, alerting others to the path of escape is something I think most people would do. For me - it's just the way I was raised - I'm not striving to go down with the ship, but manning that exit as long as possible to help others through and out is what was drilled into my head and what I think I would do. Turning tail to run, abandoning all others behind me? I'm just not seeing it. It would violate an essential code. Part of it is having a mentor who was a WWII hero, steering his LST as close as possible on D-Day and holding the thing there, at great risk to self and ship. Part of it is growing up around one of my best friends who always had an overactive "hero gene" and would later be my football captain and a few years down the road a First Lieutenant in the Marines.

I'd have a hard time avoiding suicide if I did what Koch did. The shame would be overwhelming. I don't think I could live with myself.

Maybe it's a prescription for a premature, and maybe foolish death. Maybe the smart thing is that you just fucking run. But you see freedom, escape in front of you, and you just turn tail? No. Not with others behind you.

[deacon_sephiroth]

11. bullshit!

I don't believe that he thought of the other passengers for one moment, not at the time and likely not after. I'm sure someone else pointed out to him later that he MIGHT have helped everyone else. Sociopaths don't think like that, so I'm sure it was puzzling to him when it was pointed out later.

[ailsagirl]

18. It was interesting that he felt he had to explain why he didn't go back and help (or attempt to help

But, in all fairness, perhaps he was asked the question and that part was edited out of the clip. It's hard to know.

[HiPointDem]

12. hard to say, but i feel like i would have screamed "this way!" at least before bailing.

[Itchinjim]

13. A billionare flying commercial?

What's up with that?

[ailsagirl]

19. I wondered about that! But some very rich folks are notoriously cheap

But who knows

[JohnnyRingo]

14. I remember in the '80s they raced in the America's Cup

As I recall, they were just a couple spoiled jillionaire brats who used 10 or 15 million of their rich daddy's dollars to build the America (cubed) racing yacht. They successfully took the America's cup trophy away from the Kiwis who were racing their old "Kookaburra".

I don't think they were so politically motivated back then, they were just young men who knew great wealth and used the world as a giant playground. David Koch had a quote back then I'll never forget. He said "I'm always wary when someone tells me how smart I am, or how dumb they are".

I have a quote back at him: "Too bad you turned out to be such assholes".

On edit;
After some research I see it was in 1992, and it cost dad over $60m. The win agaist the Italian defenders was credited to William Koch. He knew little about sailing but insisted on riding along like some big shot.

[Gman]

16. I can't question anyone in those circumstances

Not even Koch.

[SnohoDem]

17. I can't criticize him for this.

He saved his own life. It was instinct.

[Bodysnatcher]

20. I saw it too.

I believe it shows something about his character, He is very outspoken about his politics and he does everything in his power to crush unions. And many of those union members are fire fighters. So I think he is a coward but that's my opinion. I think a person who has had such a close call with death it may give him a little empathy or sympathy towards people who are heros. But obviously it did not. I think he and his brother Charles are two of the most immoral people by their actions and the causes they support.

[ailsagirl]

21. Bodysnatcher, thanks for resurrecting this

I am in 100% agreement with you-- the Koch brothers are scum and do not give a DAMN about others.
I think this has become even more apparent since I posted this.

Welcome to DU!!