08/14/2026
Nineteen years ago today, the crew of Northwest Airlines Flight 908 encountered one of the rarest failures a Boeing 747 crew could face: the loss of all three Inertial Navigation Systems shortly after takeoff from Taipei during severe weather.
With limited instrumentation, no dependable weather radar, language barriers with air traffic control, and thunderstorms surrounding the airport, the crew declared an emergency and worked together through four approach attempts before safely landing the aircraft.
Their professionalism and calm decision-making under extraordinary pressure earned Capt. Dennis Leighton, First Officer Edward Sparks, and Second Officer David Kritzer ALPA's Superior Airmanship Award. Their actions that day nearly two decades ago serve as a lasting reminder of the critical importance of always having at least two skilled airline pilots on the flight deck.