What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

203: Diana's plane crashed

Jan 17, 2025

Diana, a medical flight nurse, shares her gripping account of surviving a plane crash with severe injuries. As chaos unfolds, she battles to escape a burning cabin with a broken back and legs. The story highlights her miraculous resilience and the bonds formed with rescuers amidst danger. A recent follow-up reveals her journey of recovery and transformation from caregiver to patient. Intense emotions and moments of humor intertwine, making this tale of survival both harrowing and inspiring.

01:20:54

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Quick takeaways

Diana faced a life-threatening emergency when the pilot lost consciousness, leaving her to navigate a chaotic crash scene despite her severe injuries.

Her incredible bravery allowed her to summon help and coordinate an escape, showcasing the effectiveness of emergency training in critical situations.

Diana's transformative recovery journey, grounded in faith and determination, ultimately led her to become a nursing professor, inspiring others through her story.

Deep dives

Diana's Life-Altering Incident

Diana, a medical flight nurse, faced an unimaginable emergency when the pilot of her Learjet lost consciousness, and the co-pilot was unable to assist due to a severe back injury. The situation escalated rapidly as the aircraft landed in Lexington, Kentucky, with extreme force, leading to catastrophic damage, including the ripping off of the right wing and the complete loss of the landing gear. Diana, already injured with a broken back and legs, was faced with the desperate task of escaping from a potentially fiery wreck. Her incredible resolve to save herself and others, despite her own injuries, showcased her bravery and the critical training she received as a medical professional in emergency situations.

Intro

2min

A Harrowing Encounter and a Winter Pick-Me-Up

4min

A Harrowing Descent

11min

Miracle in the Flames

10min

Surviving the Aftermath of a Plane Crash

2min

Surviving the Crash: A Nurse's Journey

12min

Resilience in Recovery

38min

Lexington, Kentucky. 1 pm on a Friday, Labor Day weekend.

Diana, a medical flight nurse, was sitting in a Lear jet. The pilot was unconscious. The co-pilot could not move because he had a broken back. Diana’s patient had died on impact.

The plane was sitting on Versailles Rd in Lexington, after it had just slid across the road on its belly. The landing gear was gone. The right wing had been ripped off the plane. And now that it had come to a stop, Diana knew she had to get the door open and get people out, because she could hear the crackling of fire, and the cabin was filling with smoke.

Except she couldn’t stand up, because she had a broken back and two broken legs.

This is a Flashback episode. Diana told this story on the podcast more than 5 years ago. So after you hear her amazing story, I’ll play a recent conversation we had so you can see what’s happened with her since then.

If you’d like to contact Diana, her email is: flydi21@hotmail.com.

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/203

Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.

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