Hero Passenger Felt God Directing His Efforts

Firefighter Andrew Needum of Celina, Texas, was emotional Thursday morning as he recalled the horrifying moments after the engine exploded in mid-air on Southwest Flight 1380. Needum had been traveling on Tuesday with his wife, two kids, and his parents when, after what he said was a “smooth takeoff,” an engine exploded, breaking a window on the plane. A female passenger was then partially drawn out of the window.

Flanked by his wife and parents, Needum stood before reporters in front of his Texas fire station as he explained the frightening minutes on board the aircraft. He said the first sign of trouble on the plane was when he “heard a pop,” and all passengers hurried to put on the oxygen masks that dropped from overhead.

From his seat, Needum said he looked at his wife across the aisle — and she appeared to give him the OK to walk to the back of the plane, where “a commotion” was occurring.

“I looked in her eyes and she basically gave me the approval to go back there. In fact, I think she may have told me to go,” he said. “I went to rear of the plane … what took place back there I’m going to leave out of respect for her family [a reference to passenger Jennifer Riordan, who died]. I’m gonna leave that alone.”

That’s when Needum said he felt God directing his efforts.

“I felt the calling to get up and do something, stand up and act,” he said. “I’m no different than any other firefighter in this country. For some reason, whatever reason that is, it was me that day.”

Needum and other passengers pulled the woman, Jennifer Riordon of New Mexico, back into the aircraft. He administered CPR, but her head injuries were ultimately fatal.

“I never was in fear for my life. I’m sure my family could speak otherwise,” he said.

“I’m trained for emergency situations, and that’s just exactly what it was. I felt moved to act.”

“God put people on that plane for a reason,” he added with certainty. “Everybody acted. Everybody stood strong.”

“We’re standing here strong. We know God’s in control.”

He continued, “We may never know what that reason is, [but] God put us all on that plane for a reason, I don’t know why … He gave us this platform today. It’s just our prayer that His glory shine through this.”

Needum said he sees the positive in this frightening experience.

“I think we’ve all grown from this circumstance,” he said. “[I’ve] been in contact with people on the plane. We’re still healing. This isn’t over as far as the healing goes, but we know we’re not alone. We’re standing here strong. We know that God’s in control.”

Related: What My Hospital Roommates Taught Me About God

When asked about the wife and mother who lost her life despite everyone’s brave efforts, Needum’s eyes filled with tears as he said, “She had two kids, and a loving husband, and a community around her that loved her. My heart is broken for them. I just pray that they find comfort, that they find healing … Time will heal.”

Hero pilot Tammie Jo Schults also knew God was helping her at the controls. Navy combat aviator Linda Maloney told The Dallas Morning News that when she heard her friend Tammie Jo Schults was flying the plane, she texted her: “News travels fast. Praying for you.”

Schults texted back simply, “God is good.”

Deirdre Reilly is a senior editor for LifeZette.