WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — The Wings of Honor Museum is thrilled to announce a once-in-a-lifetime event,”The Pilot and the Passenger,” on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
This extraordinary presentation brings together Harold Johnson, founder and museum director of the Wings of Honor Museum and former co-pilot of Southern Airways Flight 49, and Sarah Jane Melton Polk and Liz Phillips the daughters of the late Mary Emily Melton, whose mother lived through that harrowing ordeal. For the first time since the infamous hijacking on November 10, 1972, Harold Johnson and Mary’s daughters will meet face-to-face to share their mother’s personal recollections of the flight and its dramatic events.
Southern Airways Flight 49 became one of the most infamous hijackings in aviation history. Three armed hijackers seized the DC-9 aircraft mid-flight, demanding ransom and safe passage. The flight spanned multiple stops across the U.S., Canada, and Cuba, lasting 30 tense hours. Despite the danger and uncertainty, the actions of Co-Pilot Harold Johnson and his crew ensured the survival of all 41 passengers and crew members aboard.
The program will feature firsthand accounts from both perspectives—pilot and passenger—offering unique insights into the fear, resilience, and courage that defined this unforgettable chapter in aviation history.
Following the presentation, guests are invited to a cake reception with refreshments, where they will have the opportunity to meet Harold Johnson and the passengers’ children.
This event is free and open to the public. However, due to limited seating, RSVPs are required by March 1, 2025.
Event Details:
What: Pilot and the Passenger
When: Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Where: Wings of Honor Museum, 70 South Beacon Road, Walnut Ridge, AR
Cost: Free of charge
For the first time in over five decades, Harold Johnson and the children of a passenger from Southern Airways Flight 49 will meet to recount one of the longest and most dangerous hijackings in aviation history. This unique event offers a rare glimpse into history from two remarkable perspectives.
To RSVP or for more information, please contact the Wings of Honor Museum at 800.584.5575 or email contact@wingsofhonor.org.
About Wings of Honor Museum:
The Wings of Honor Museum preserves and shares the rich aviation and military history of Walnut Ridge and beyond. Through exhibits, events, and educational programs, the museum honors the sacrifices of our veterans and inspires future generations.
press release
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