Captain Robert Pearson, a renowned pilot, was at the centre of attention at the Stelios Foundation Conference Hall in Monaco on May 3 at an event organised by the Air League of Monaco.
Captain Pearson was the pilot of Air Canada Flight 143, also known as the ‘Gimli Glider.” During a flight from Montreal to Edmonton, the Boeing 767 ran out of fuel due to a miscalculation of fuel quantities. The crew, including Captain Pearson, had to perform an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield in Gimli, Manitoba, which had been converted into a racetrack.
The landing was successful, and all 69 passengers and crew members survived without any serious injuries.
At Wednesday’s event Captain Pearson was interviewed live on stage by Patron Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon in the presence of Joel Bouzou, representative of HSH Prince Albert II.
Captain Pearson said “I am honoured to be here in Monaco and the hospitality that I have received has been great.”
Captain Pearson also said: “The crew onboard the flight also did a great job in staying calm considering the situation.”
“A Boeing 767 that lost both engines at 26,000 feet with nobody being injured seriously is an incredible achievement,” said Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of EasyJet and the patron and President of the Air League of Monaco.
Captain Pearson took questions from the audience that covered a wide range of topics, including pilot training and aircraft maintenance. His responses were insightful and demonstrated his deep knowledge and expertise in the field.
The Air League of Monaco helps kickstart young pupils interest in aviation.
MAIN PHOTO: Sir Stelios, Captain Pearson, and Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon, centre, Captain Pearson with Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou Max Brodie
