The Transat pilot is not a Hero but he`s a bloody good, and lucky, pilot. He was doing his job and saving his own life.
A Hero is someone who puts his own life at risk to save others when he is not obliged, or forced, so to do.
The classic case is, of course:- `Pilot dies avoiding school in doomed aircraft`.
Don`t forget, if a crash landing is unavoidable, find a school to crash near.
Mike W.