Originally Posted by stepwilk
And what you say about the story being overblown is just what I said, so we're in total agreement there.
It might have been what you meant to post, but in fact you said the opposite. (post 53). Just a finger-slip, I'm sure.
To judge someone a 'hero' in aviation I use these incidents as yardsticks:
1) The BOAC flight attendant who went back into the fire to try to save passengers and perished herself.
2) The bystander who jumped into the icy Potomac river to save a drowning flight attendant, while the 'first responders' stood around.
3) The Argonaut captain who managed to put it down in the only open space in Stockport.
Performances below this standard are often praiseworthy and sometimes sheer brilliance. Not heroic though.
It's a special accolade and should not be applied to every action which is just slightly beyond the expected level.