Originally Posted by
NutLoose
"If true..."
Shades of 'he stuck with the plane to avoid crashing into the school/nursery/orphanage' there, Nutloose. More likely not thinking of anyone or anything else other than his own self-preservation at that point, and was just trying to clear himself from the danger area. That the smoke from his burning vehicle obscured his comrades was little more than a happy happenstance, I'd suggest.