U.S. pilot on landing damaged plane: 'Just doing my job'

Shane Osborn

By From Jeff Flock
CNN Chicago

NORFOLK, Nebraska (CNN) -- The American pilot who guided the damaged U.S. surveillance plane to safety after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet says he was "just doing my job," his mother told CNN Thursday.

Doug and Diane Osborn beamed with pride as they talked about their son, Lt. Shane Osborn, mission commander of the EP-3 spy plane, who was detained with his 23 crew members for 11 days in China.

The plane suffered extensive damage to two of its four engines and dropped about 8,000 feet soon after the April 1 collision, before being steadied. It then landed on the Chinese island of Hainan, where the crew was detained.

VIDEO Families of crew member show their emotions while talking about the news Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    IN-DEPTH U.S.-China Collision: A diplomatic solution  • About freighter returning EP-3  • Look: Inside the EP-3  • Facts about the EP-3  • Map: Locating the incident  • Big picture: High stakes  • Classroom discussion guide  • Historical US-China timeline  • Whidbey arrival images  • Crew speaks out  • Crew's return images

"The Navy trained him well, and he is a very strong, focused person," the mother said. "I think he also had an angel on his shoulder, and I just thank God that he was able to bring 'em in."

During the interview from Norfolk, both parents watched as the crew appeared on television in Hawaii. "That's him," the parents said with glee. The father clapped, and both teared up.

"Look at all those guys, everybody, the three gals and the guys," Mr. Osborn said. "Look how happy they are. It's kinda nice, isn't it?"

Mrs. Osborn added, "We are just so thankful that they are all home and that they are all safe. It's just great."

She said that, when she spoke to her boy, "I told him he was a hero. And he said, 'Not really, just doing my job.'"

President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top officials have praised Osborn's skills for landing the plane safely. He "did a marvelous job of putting that plane on the ground," Powell said Wednesday.

Mr. Osborn said their son has always been a "hero in our eyes, but it took 23 other people doing their job exactly right" to bring the plane down safely.

"There are 24 heroes out there, as far as I'm concerned, but we're proud that our son is one of them," he said.

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Crew's families thrilled with news of release
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Bush reaction: 'That's good news'
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Spy plane crew's families await word, offer mixed feelings
April 8, 2001
Chinese pilot's wife sends Bush emotional letter
April 6, 2001
Martyrdom for missing Chinese pilot
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USCINCPAC Homepage
The Pentagon
U.S. Navy
Navy Fact File: EP-3E ORION (ARIES II) Aircraft
U.S. Department of Defense
Government of China (in Chinese)
U.S. Department of State
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the U.S.A.
Government Information Office, Republic of China

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