Congressman Cohen Commends Recent Acts of Heroism
Says Southwest Pilot’s and Waffle House Patron’s Actions “need to be remembered”
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) went to the House floor this afternoon to commend recent acts of heroism by Southwest Airlines Pilot Tammie Jo Shults and Waffle House patron James Shaw Jr. whose courageous acts saved lives. See his remarks here.
"Malevolent actions and accidents give an opportunity for people to rise to heroic actions," Congressman Cohen said. "America is a country familiar with heroes."
"James Shaw Jr. is a lifetime Nashvillian. He didn't plan to be a hero that day but he rose to the occasion….The pilot, a trained Navy fighter pilot, Tammie Jo Shults, stayed calm and brought that plane in safely without loss of life or injuries."
"Those actions need to be remembered, reflected on and honored, and I do so today."
Shults safely landed a New York-to-Dallas flight at Philadelphia on April 17 after one of its engines exploded, killing a passenger. Shaw was wounded disarming a man with an assault-style weapon at a Nashville restaurant early Sunday morning.