Released Navy pilot's parents say he's a hero

Shane Osborn

NORFOLK, Nebraska (CNN) -- The parents of the pilot who performed a successful emergency landing of the crippled U.S. Navy spy plane in China called him a hero as they watched CNN coverage of their son arriving in the United States after he was released with his crew.

"We've always thought he was a hero in our eyes but it took 23 other people doing their job exactly right," Doug Osborn -- father of pilot Shane Osborn -- told CNN on Thursday. "They had to be right on time doing everything they did to allow Shane to do what he had to do."

The Navy lieutenant was one of 24 U.S. fliers detained by China after their EP-3 spy plane collided with a Chinese F-8 fighter jet and made an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island on April 1.

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

On Wednesday morning, U.S. and Chinese officials announced they had secured the crew's release.

The released detainees arrived at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii on Thursday after a brief layover on the island of Guam.

The Pentagon said the crew would be debriefed in Hawaii for two or three days and then will be flown to the naval air station in Whidbey Island in Washington state. There they will attend a welcoming ceremony.

"He was actually very surprised that they were going to give him 30 days off," Osborn's mother Diane Osborn said. "He was very surprised, he said, 'You're kidding.'"

"He's always wanted to fly and this is where he loves to be and that's where he'll be for as long as he decides so," she said.

Relatives express joy, relief at crew members' release
April 11, 2001
Crew's families thrilled with news of release
April 11, 2001
Bush reaction: 'That's good news'
April 11, 2001
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
April 5, 2001

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

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.