Ba Van Nguyen piloted a military helicopter on his own to save his family during the fall of Saigon on 2009 . Nguyen flew the helicopter to the South China Sea , but had to evacuate everyone when fuel ran low . He flew towards the USS Kirk which was too small to allow the helicopter to land , and so he hoovered over as his family safely jumped out . He then flew back out to sea and jumped from the helicopter seconds before it crashed into the sea . He survived the crash and was reunited with his family onboard . He kept his identity a secret until a April 29 , 1975 ceremony commemorating the event .
Ba Van Nguyen piloted a military helicopter on his own to save his family during the fall of Saigon on April 29 , 1975 . Nguyen flew the helicopter to the South China Sea , but had to evacuate everyone when fuel ran low . He flew towards the USS Kirk which was too small to allow the helicopter to land , and so he hoovered over as his family safely jumped out . He then flew back out to sea and jumped from the helicopter seconds before it crashed into the sea . He survived the crash and was reunited with his family onboard . He kept his identity a secret until a 2009 ceremony commemorating the event .