Auburn Calloway attempts to destroy Federal Express Flight 705 in order to allow his family to benefit from his life insurance policy.

The morning of April 7, 1994, began like countless others at the bustling Federal Express global hub in Memphis, Tennessee. A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 cargo jet, designated Flight 705, was preparing for a routine cross-country journey, loaded with electronics equipment bound for San Jose, California. However, what appeared to be a standard flight was about to descend into a harrowing struggle for survival at 22,000 feet, forever etching the names of its crew into aviation history. This was no ordinary flight; it was the stage for a desperate and violent hijack attempt masterminded by one of FedEx's own employees, Auburn R. Calloway.

The Desperate Scheme: A Life Insurance Payout

Auburn Calloway, a Federal Express flight engineer, was facing a dire professional crisis. His career hung in the balance due to allegations of falsifying his flight hours—a serious breach of trust and a potential safety concern in the highly regulated aviation industry. Faced with likely dismissal, Calloway devised a chilling and elaborate plan, one that the prosecution would later argue was an attempt to commit suicide while simultaneously securing a substantial financial benefit for his family. He intended to stage his own death as an accident, hoping his family would be able to collect on a $2.5 million life insurance policy provided by Federal Express, a benefit typically voided in cases of suicide.

Aboard Flight 705: The Devious Plan Unfolds

Calloway boarded Flight 705 not as a crew member on duty, but as a "deadhead" passenger—an airline employee traveling on company business, typically occupying an available seat on a scheduled flight. His seemingly innocuous guitar case, however, concealed a sinister arsenal: several claw hammers and a speargun. His plot began even before takeoff. In a calculated move, Calloway attempted to switch off the aircraft's Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), a vital piece of equipment that captures all sounds and conversations within the cockpit, crucial for accident investigations. He aimed to eliminate any recorded evidence that might reveal the true nature of the impending attack. However, unbeknownst to Calloway, Flight Engineer Andrew Peterson, noticing the CVR light off, instinctively switched it back on, believing he had merely forgotten to activate it, a routine pre-flight check.

The Struggle in the Cockpit: A Fight for Survival

Once the DC-10 was airborne and cruising at altitude, Calloway unleashed his brutal assault. Armed with the hammers, he launched a ferocious attack on the three-man flight crew: Captain James Tucker, First Officer David Sanders, and Flight Engineer Andrew Peterson. His intent was clear: to bludgeon them to death in a way that their injuries would be consistent with a violent aircraft accident, not a hijacking. The speargun was intended as a last resort, should his primary weapons fail. The cockpit, a confined space typically reserved for highly trained professionals working in unison, transformed into a brutal battleground.

Despite sustaining severe and life-threatening head injuries, the crew members exhibited extraordinary courage and resilience. Captain Tucker, First Officer Sanders, and Flight Engineer Peterson fought back with incredible determination, defending themselves and their aircraft. The ensuing struggle was fierce and protracted. The crew managed to subdue Calloway, preventing him from crashing the aircraft. Captain Tucker, despite being severely injured and bleeding profusely, skillfully executed an emergency landing, guiding the damaged DC-10 back to Memphis International Airport.

The Legal Ramifications: Justice Served

Following the harrowing incident, Auburn Calloway was apprehended. During his subsequent trial, he attempted to invoke an insanity defense, arguing he was not mentally sound at the time of the attack. However, the prosecution successfully painted a picture of a meticulously planned act driven by financial desperation, not mental incapacitation. Calloway was ultimately found guilty of multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, attempted air piracy (hijacking), and interference with flight crew operations. He received two consecutive life sentences, effectively ensuring he would spend the rest of his life behind bars with no possibility of parole. While he later successfully appealed the conviction for "interference with flight crew operations," as it was deemed a lesser offense absorbed by the more severe charge of attempted air piracy, his primary convictions and life sentences remained unchanged.

FAQs

Who was Auburn Calloway and what was his motive?
Auburn Calloway was a Federal Express flight engineer facing dismissal for falsifying his flight hours. His motive was to stage his own death as an accident during the flight, hoping his family would collect on a $2.5 million life insurance policy provided by Federal Express, a payout typically denied in cases of suicide.
What happened to the crew of Federal Express Flight 705?
Captain James Tucker, First Officer David Sanders, and Flight Engineer Andrew Peterson all sustained severe injuries during Calloway's hammer attack. Despite their wounds, they bravely fought back, subdued Calloway, and managed to land the aircraft safely back in Memphis. All three survived, though they faced a long recovery process from their physical and psychological trauma.
What weapons did Calloway use in the hijack attempt?
Calloway concealed several claw hammers and a speargun inside a guitar case. He primarily used the hammers to attack the flight crew.
What is a "deadhead" passenger?
A "deadhead" passenger is an airline employee (like a pilot or flight attendant) traveling on a flight as a passenger, typically for company business, such as positioning for another flight or returning home after a duty tour.
What is a CVR and why was it important in this incident?
A CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) is an aviation device that records all sounds and conversations in the cockpit. Calloway tried to switch it off to prevent evidence of his plan, but Flight Engineer Andrew Peterson unknowingly switched it back on, providing crucial audio evidence of the attack and the crew's heroic struggle.
What was the outcome of Auburn Calloway's trial?
Auburn Calloway was found guilty of attempted murder, attempted air piracy, and interference with flight crew operations. He received two consecutive life sentences without parole. Although he successfully appealed the conviction for interference (as it was deemed a lesser offense of attempted air piracy), his life sentences for the other charges remained.