Mick was the First Officer flying U.S. Airways flight 1041 from Saint Thomas to Charlotte on January 16 2010. Unbeknown to him, this was to be his final flight and the end of his career as a pilot.
His pilot license was revoked by the FAA on medical grounds. Ongoing neurological issues and other health complaints following exposure to fumes on flight US1041 - Aircraft #251 were the reasons.
Mick passed away on April 22, 2023.
The Aviation Herald published the following about US1041 - January 16, 2010:
"A US Airways Boeing 767-200, registration N251AY performing flight US-1041 from Saint Thomas (US Virgin Islands) to Charlotte, NC (USA) with 174 passengers, was on approach to Charlotte when the crew reported several passengers and cabin crew had noticed some odor on board shortly after takeoff and were now suffering from headache and nausea raising the alert of a possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The airplane continued for a safe landing on Charlotte runway 23 and was received by about a dozen ambulances at the gate. 8 passengers were checked and treated on scene by medical staff, but were able to catch their connecting flights, 7 crew members were taken to a local hospital as a precaution.
US Airways reported, that the initial suspect of carbon monoxide did not verify, and the cause of the odor and nausea is under investigation. The airplane has been taken out of service.
In March 2010 US Airways confirmed, that engine oil had leaked through a faulty seal into the bleed air supplying the air conditioning system." (source ©): http://avherald.com/h?article=425f6a41
Mick had a passion for aviation and aircraft from a very young age. He worked at a small airfield on the ramp where his duties included refuelling the aircraft. In his early 20’s he learned to fly in a tail dragger/tail wheel aircraft.
https://www.crazedpilot.com/blog/understanding-tailwheel-taildraggers-conventional-gear
He began his commercial flying career in 1986 with Piedmont Airlines who merged with US Airways in 1989. In 2010 when he was exposed to the fumes onboard, Mick was only 58 years old.
He loved his career, it was his life and passion and he thoroughly enjoyed it. He was a much loved and respected pilot within the crew community.
At his age he could have retired around seven years later on a very good pension.
Everything he had worked for as well as his good health was cruelly taken away from him in the blink of an eye.
Of the seven crew members onboard US1041, (two flight crew and five flight attendants) only one flight attendant was able to return to flying.
Toxic fumes on US1041 - aircraft #251 caused numerous life-changing and life-threatening injuries as well as the loss of six flying careers.
You would think that a responsible airline would have been concerned for the health and well-being of their employees and passengers onboard their aircraft, leaving no stone unturned to find out what had gone so terribly wrong, wouldn’t you?
• This was not the case. Four fume events occurred on the same aircraft between December 2009 and March 2010. The aircraft continued to fly. A further 2 crew from other fume events on the same aircraft lost their health and careers also.
• On 19 December 2016 a check of both the FAA incident database and NTSB’s investigation lists revealed that none of the four occurrences were listed. "Neither database contains any entry at any time involving N251AY." - (source Aviation Herald - link above).
You would also think that a responsible airline would support their loyal employees and help in any way they could.
• Sadly this was not the case either.
After the fume event of 16 January 2010, US Airways treated all of the crew from flight #1041 in a despicable manner and with complete contempt.
It took a long time for the company’s worker compensation scheme (which US Airways ultimately controlled) to agree to pay the crew a very meagre amount of money which in no way covered the loss of their careers.
The pilots never received a settlement from the worker compensation scheme. They received monthly installments for around two years after which, the worker compensation provider and US Airways found a way to stop their payments.
The pilots union at US Airways - USAPA, were no better. They turned their backs on the two injured pilots leaving them with no help or support whatsoever.
Where was the regulator, the FAA?
• Nowhere. Because, like the CAA that regulates aviation in the U.K., they simply do not care about people. Their only interest is the industry, in particular the airlines (their customers) who fund them and produce money for the economy and shareholders.
• The various fume events on aircraft N251AY in 2009 and 2010 were not even listed on their incident database, nor that of the NTSB. So, either US Airways did not send the reports or the FAA had ignored them.
US Airways merged with American Airlines in 2015. Neither pilot was acknowledged by American Airlines.
Dave Hill, the captain of flight US1041 campaigned to stop contaminated air in aircraft after losing his pilot license due to his ongoing health problems following the fume event. He was helping to raise awareness via the media. This report and video are from November 2016:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/flight-crew-members-toxic-air-plane-cabin-harmed/story?id=43231109
Sadly, a month after that news report Dave Hill took his own life:
‘On Friday, December 16, 2016, the pain of his illness and everything that accompanies losing his career and his health became too much for him to bare, and he ended his life. We have no doubt that had he not suffered that fume exposure, and had the “system” not treated him as it did, he would be alive and well today.’
https://www.unfiltered.vip/capt-david-hill-dagger.html
Captain Hill’s widow had written an email to American Airlines requesting they post her husband’s obituary to inform his former US Airways colleagues and friends at American Airlines of his passing. The Inflight (Flight Attendants) Department respected Mrs Hill’s request and placed the obituary on the notice boards without question. The flight crew department, for some reason, refused to allow the posting of Captain Dave Hill’s obituary on the flight crew notice boards. The director of flight and chief pilot in 2016 said that the family did not want the obituary posted, which was a blatant lie.
What happened at US Airways from 2010 onwards was a prime example of corporate greed and damage limitation in action. They denied their employees who were injured and subsequently disabled after breathing toxic air on their aircraft the support and care they desperately needed and deserved.
As for American Airlines’ flight crew department denying the wishes of a recently deceased pilot’s widow... words fail us.
Finally, a few words from someone who knew Mick Fowler well:
“Mick was the kindest man and softly spoken. He always found the good in everyone. He was a gentle soul but at the same time a good communicator.
He was genuine to the core. He looked amazing in his uniform and in his profession as a pilot was a perfectionist.
He had a true love for aviation with many books, which he called his aviation library.
He was open and honest with people and no one was a stranger to him. If someone needed help or some encouragement, Mickey was there.
There are no words to describe what a beautiful heart he had. He truly loved all his friends. As you know I was his best friend and he was mine. He took a piece of my heart with him. I am so sad today. I am not sure how to go on.”
Mick was a man of strong faith and attended the First Christian Church in Johnson City, Tennessee.
He attained the rank of Eagle Scout during his youth and was proud of his many accomplishments.
There will be a Celebration of Life Service for First Officer Macon L ‘Mick’ Fowler on June 10, 2023 in Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
Our love and deepest condolences go to Mick’s family and many friends in the United States.
We are thinking of you all at this very sad time.
Fly High Mick Fowler.
You will always be remembered.