United Airlines & US Air Force Pilot dies aged 46

Pilot Died – United Airlines and US Air Force Pilot Lt. Col. Michael Fugett, age 46, died unexpectedly at his home on May 9, 2023

Dr. William Makis MD

14 May 2023

Reno, NV – Col. Michael Fugett, commander of the Nevada Air Guard’s 152nd Operations Group, died on May 9, 2023 (click here)

Fugett became the commander of the Reno-based 152nd Operations Group in October 2022. The group includes about 150 Airmen and conducts airlift, airdrop, and firefighting operations.

Fugett is survived by his wife, Mindy, two daughters, Molly, 8, and Mila, 6, of Reno.

“He was instrumental in the success we’ve had with firefighting through MAFFS,” said retired Lt. Col. Todd Hudson. That was probably his crowning achievement.”

“He loved the camaraderie with the aircrew. He loved Ops,” said Col. David Chauvin, the Nevada Air Guard chief of staff and Southwest Airlines captain. “You don’t always get that in the civilian pilot sector. He was dedicated to his work. He always cared about the organization, and his Airmen, first.”

Fugett compiled more than 4,100 flying hours, including 800 in combat.

152nd Airlift Wing:

3 recent Pilot deaths:

Pilot death – April 13, 2023 – Phil Thomas, graduate of Flight Training Pilot academy in Cadiz, Spain (FTEJerez) died suddenly.

Pilot death – March 17, 2023 – 39 year old Westjet Pilot Benjamin Paul Vige died suddenly in Calgary

Pilot death – March 11, 2023 – British Airways pilot died of heart attack in crew hotel in Cairo before a Cairo to London flight (name & age not released)

10 other recent Pilot incapacitations in-flight:

May 11, 2023 – HiSKy Flight H4474 (DUB-KIV) Dublin to Chisinau (Moldova), 20 min after liftoff pilot became “unable to act”, plane diverted to Manchester (click here)

May 4, 2023 – British Charter TUI Airways Flight BY-1424 (NCL-LPA) Newcastle to Las Palmas Spain pilot became ill, plane diverted back to NCL. (click here)

April 4, 2023 – United Airlines Flight 2102 (BOI-SFO) – captain was incapacitated, first officer was only one in control of the aircraft. (click here)

March 25, 2023 – TAROM Flight RO-7673 TSR-HRG diverted to Bucharest as 30 yo pilot had chest pain, then collapsed (click here)

March 22, 2023 – Southwest Flight WN6013 LAS-CMH diverted as pilot collapsed shortly after take-off, replaced by non-Southwest pilot (click here)

March 18, 2023 – Air Transat Flight TS739 FDF-YUL first officer was incapacitated about 200NM south of Montreal (click here)

March 13, 2023 – Emirates Flight EK205 MXP-JFK diverted due to pilot illness hour and a half after take-off (click here)

March 11, 2023 – United Airlines Flight UA2007 GUA-ORD diverted due to “incapacitated pilot” who had chest pains (click here)

March 11, 2023? – British Airways (CAI-LHR) pilot collapsed in Cairo hotel and died, was scheduled to fly Airbus A321 from Cairo to London (click here)

March, 3, 2023 – Virgin Australia Flight VA-717 ADL-PER Adelaide to Perth flight was forced to make an emergency landing after First Officer suffered heart attack 30 min after departure. (click here)

Epoch Times articles on pilot incapacitations

I helped Epoch Times prepare two excellent articles on pilot incidents in-flight:

April 18, 2023 – IN-DEPTH: One Moment He Was in Command of a 150,000-Pound Plane, Next He Was Technically Dead

March 30, 2023 – Reports of ‘Incapacitated’ Airline Pilots Stoke Concerns, Calls for Investigations