• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
What's On

Childminder who posted vile tweet on day of Southport attack being released from jail

31 July 2025

Philips ‘excellent value for money’ wireless headphones get price drop

31 July 2025

Aldi’s £13 LED mask returns to shelves– but how does it compare to a £400 one?

31 July 2025

Arsenal discover deadline to trigger Eberechi Eze’s transfer clause as three issues emerge

31 July 2025

‘We ditched UK for city where wine is £3 and it’s like a permanent holiday’

31 July 2025

Geri Horner poses with the Lionesses at Oasis gig as they celebrate Euros victory

31 July 2025

Brits told to never put one banned item in garden bins as you could face punishment

31 July 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Trending
  • Childminder who posted vile tweet on day of Southport attack being released from jail
  • Philips ‘excellent value for money’ wireless headphones get price drop
  • Aldi’s £13 LED mask returns to shelves– but how does it compare to a £400 one?
  • Arsenal discover deadline to trigger Eberechi Eze’s transfer clause as three issues emerge
  • ‘We ditched UK for city where wine is £3 and it’s like a permanent holiday’
  • Geri Horner poses with the Lionesses at Oasis gig as they celebrate Euros victory
  • Brits told to never put one banned item in garden bins as you could face punishment
  • Brits urged not to visit zoos with great apes amid calls to free our ‘cousins’
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
England TimesEngland Times
Demo
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
England TimesEngland Times
Home » Mum’s selfless final act saved her two young sons in horrific plane crash
World

Mum’s selfless final act saved her two young sons in horrific plane crash

By staff6 July 2025No Comments3 Mins Read

A plane crash survivor reveals how he and his brother only lived to tell their tale of survival because of their mum’s selfless final act to protect them

12:00, 06 Jul 2025Updated 12:05, 06 Jul 2025

United Airlines Flight 232 went down in Sioux City, Iowa, USA, killing 111 people on July 19th, 1989
United Airlines Flight 232 went down in Sioux City, Iowa, USA, killing 111 people on July 19th, 1989(Image: AP)

An iconic photograph of a young three year old boy being carried to safety by a soldier will be forever etched in Spencer Bailey’s memory.

It’s a picture that transports him back 36 years to July 19th, 1989 when United Airlines Flight 232 went down in Sioux City, Iowa, USA, killing 111 people including his mum.

Spencer Bailey, 3, was one of the very few survivors of the plane crash along with his big brother and as he approaches 40, he has paid a visit to what remains of Runway 22 at the city airport.

It was here where the plane first went down before sliding into a nearby cornfield. The asphalt is not really tended these days, with weeds growing through the cracks which is as it should be, Spencer, now a journalist and author, told People.

READ MORE: Doctors make horrifying discovery in x-ray after toddler complains of stomach pains

The tail section of United Airlines flight 232 rests on a flatbed truck after being removed from the crash
The tail section of United Airlines flight 232 rests on a flatbed truck after being removed from the crash (Image: AP)

“There’s sort of a beautiful metaphor that quite literally reflects the sort of scars and the temporal nature of lingering trauma,” he says. “But also being able to grow past it.”

“My mom was 36, so this year marks the amount of time she spent on Earth,” he said. “Obviously I carry my mom with me. I’m so grateful for those three years and 11 months we had together, but I have no memory of them.”

Although he has no memory of that day, he’s been able to piece together what happened through the subsequent investigation and via the media.

On a flight from Denver to Chicago the titanium fan disk in the passenger jet’s engine broke at 37,000 feet in the air, causing an explosion above the Iowa cornfields.

As the spiraling debris sheared through the plane, cutting all of the hydraulic lines needed to steer the craft, Captain Al Haynes miraculously managed an emergency landing at Sioux Gateway Airport.

It was the deadliest single-aircraft accident in the history of United Airlines. Of the 296 people on board, 184 lived including Spencer and his older brother, Brandon, who was just 6 at the time.

Brandon later told him how their mum, Frances, put her arm around them as the aircraft’s tail section ripped off — ejecting their bank of seats as the plane slid to a stop, upside-down. Brandon was severely injured and Spencer suffered brain trauma and went into a five-day coma.

Frances “Francie” Lockwood Bailey, a wife, teacher, artist and children’s clothing designer, died protecting her boys. “There’s a sense that she’s always been looking over us. It’s incredible for me to think [we] were the last thing she was holding onto,” Spencer says.

“I wonder, had she not put us down into the brace position, had she not put her arms over the backs of us, would either of us not be here?”

Spencer Bailey is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the media company The Slowdown and host of the Time Sensitive podcast. He is also the editor-at-large of the book publisher Phaidon.

READ MORE: Samsung and Google smartphone deals include free earbuds and smartwatches

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

Related News

Philips ‘excellent value for money’ wireless headphones get price drop

31 July 2025

Brit, 23, suffers horror injuries after falling ‘head first’ into Ibiza pool

31 July 2025

Extreme weather survivalist explains why mega tsunami could be truly ‘devastating’

30 July 2025

Klyuchevskoy volcano eruption: Russian crater spews lava hours after quake

30 July 2025

Brit abroad slams all-inclusive hotel food asking ‘what on earth is this?’

30 July 2025

Shock moment TV reporter screams as she’s mugged right before going live on air

30 July 2025
Latest News

Philips ‘excellent value for money’ wireless headphones get price drop

31 July 2025

Aldi’s £13 LED mask returns to shelves– but how does it compare to a £400 one?

31 July 2025

Arsenal discover deadline to trigger Eberechi Eze’s transfer clause as three issues emerge

31 July 2025

‘We ditched UK for city where wine is £3 and it’s like a permanent holiday’

31 July 2025
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
Don't Miss
Entertainment

Geri Horner poses with the Lionesses at Oasis gig as they celebrate Euros victory

By staff31 July 20250

Oasis’ Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher performed at Wembley Stadium in London again tonight, with…

Brits told to never put one banned item in garden bins as you could face punishment

31 July 2025

Brits urged not to visit zoos with great apes amid calls to free our ‘cousins’

31 July 2025

Brit, 23, suffers horror injuries after falling ‘head first’ into Ibiza pool

31 July 2025
England Times
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
© 2025 England Times. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version