Hero Pilot and Bradley Alumn

PEORIA- A plane makes a successful emergency landing, thanks to a pilot and now hero with local ties.

Bradley alum Captain Jack Conroyd is credited with saving the lives the 64 people who were on board Delta Flight 4951 last weekend.

The Captain graduated from BU in 1978.
Tonight, his former advisor tells us why he couldn't be more proud of "Jack."

"When I heard that Jack was the pilot of that, I though oh my gosh," says Joseph Emanuel.

Captain Jack Conroyd's made the desperate decision to divert the 64 passenger plane going to White Planes, New York to the John F. Kennedy Airport.

The plane's right landing gear wouldn't deploy.

Captain Conroyd brought the plane down on 2 wheels before the right wing skidded across the runway, shooting sparks for 20 seconds and saving 64 lives.

"I'm retired Navy, this is the most significant incident in the 32 years I've been flying," says Captain Conroyd.

Joe emanuel recalls Jack's decision to go into the Navy, "I remember talking to him late senior year and what he was planning on doing and he was talking about going into the Navy."

An experience Emanuel says Jack added to his education from Bradley, to make a life changing choice.

"He was able to call upon that at a time when he needed to make a critical decision and he was able to do that and didn't panic, very cool. He made the right decision that saved a lot of lives," says Emanuel.

Emanuel says having one of his student's reach this caliber is a first.
He feels like a proud parent, knowing he helped guide Jack through some of his formative years.

"I've never had another student that has been what you might call a National hero. I'm certainly very proud of Jack," says Emanuel.

Helping to guide a student that's now a Nation's hero.

Captain Conroyed received his Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Bradley.
He now lives in Florida with his family.