Kerry G. Trosper helped to save Walter Perry and Allen S. Froust from burning, Houston, Texas, August 23, 1990. Passengers Perry, 49, who was unconscious, and Froust, 27, who was dazed, were in the cabin of a small jet that crashed shortly after take-off and caught fire, killing three. Upon impact, the plane’s left wing, which contained a fuel tank, and its cockpit separated from the fuselage, creating a breach through which most of the other passengers escaped. Flames that had erupted on the left wing spread to the fuselage and entered the cabin through the breach. Trosper, 29, line service technician at the airport, witnessed the crash and ran to the scene. As flames then prevented access to the fuselage through the breach, Trosper pried open the plane’s cargo door, which was on the right side of the plane. He entered the cabin and found Perry strapped in a seat. With help from a co-worker who had joined him, Trosper dragged Perry to the cargo door and handed him over to another co-worker who then took Perry from the plane. Trosper and the first co-worker again penetrated the cabin, the front of which was becoming more involved in flame. They located Froust and guided him to the cargo door and out of the plane, Trosper following. Perry and Froust were hospitalized for treatment of injuries received during the crash, and they recovered.
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