American businessman rescued about 50 passengers

Benjamin Levy, 39, an American businessman, was watching the Korean movie “Banchangkko” when the airplane was about to land at the San Francisco International Airport. The 2012 movie is about a firefighter, who risks his life each day to fight against blaze but could not save the life of his wife.

Ben was on his way home from his business trip to Korea. Looking outside the window just before landing, however, he instinctively felt something had gone wrong. The body of the airplane seemed approaching the runway too closely as if it had no wheels in addition to the abnormally fast landing speed.

The next moment, the airplane hit hard on the ground with an explosive sound. A man sitting next to him hit his head hard against the chair, and the airplane was soon filled with outcries for help by passengers. People began screaming at the top of their voice, and the inside of the plane turned to chaos itself.

Like the movie hero, Levy volunteered for rescue others. His seat, 30K, was right behind of the right wing of the airplane. Feeling pain as if his ribs were broken, he calmly stood up and pulled the lever of an emergency door. Though the door was opened, an emergency slide did not work. Outside the door, the debris of the right wing was scattered around. Levy helped passengers get off the plane by stepping on the airplane debris.

Passengers pushed the people in front so that they could move easily toward the door. During the whole time, Levy shouted at passengers not to worry about their belongings and hurry up. He helped people stricken by fear calm down and get off the plane swiftly. In this way, he helped about 50 passengers securely get off the airplane. Thanks to Levy’s heroic help, passengers could escape within the crucial two to three minutes before the airplane was engulfed by flame. After getting off the plane after other passengers, he was sent to a hospital.

Levy’s story was spread by the official facebook page of WSB-TV, a local broadcasting company in Atlanta, GA. The TV released pictures of Levy being treated at the hospital, saying, “We’d like to deliver you a former WSB-TV employee’s story.” Levy himself posted messages on his Twitter account, saying, “I’m waiting for CT for an extensive checkup. I’m worried about other passengers of the airplane and their families.” Netizens left messages of thanks and encouragement, such as “Thank you for your courageous act” and “I hope you get well soon.”

Fortunately, Levy’s ribs were found okay. He said, “My wife and two children who had travelled to Korea with me came back to San Francisco earlier. I cannot be more grateful that my family was not on the airplane.”