“I thought I’d never fly again.”

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jimmie D. Pike
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  "At the beginning, I thought I'd never fly again."

1st Lt. Laura Jones recalled the accident that happened Jan. 2, just east of Uvalde as she was heading back to Laughlin from San Antonio International Airport.

"We were traveling about 75 miles per hour when the driver on the highway next to me had a blow out and swerved into me," said Jones who is a T-6 Texan instructor pilot from the 85th Flying Training Squadron. "Shortly after, a passing National Guardsman arrived, held my neck to immobilize to keep me from damaging my cervical spine and talked to me until the paramedics arrived. It all happened pretty quick, from getting hit to the helicopter taking me to San Antonio Military Medical Center, only a couple of hours had passed. I maintained consciousness the entire time."

Jones suffered multiple breaks and injuries during the collision, injuries that grounded her flying career.

"The accident left me with a shattered left femur, lacerations on my kidney and spleen, my right wrist was broken in four places, my jaw was broken in two places, and my lungs were bruised, among other scrapes," said Jones. "After I heard there were not any neck, spine or eye injuries, I knew I would be flying soon enough."

The accident was followed by 11 days in the hospital and several grueling months of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

"We started her with basic range of motion exercises to work up to light weights and ensure she didn't overwork herself," said Kira Pie, a local physical therapy assistant. "We now have her going through impact workouts, like skipping, to get her body adjusted to the feel of pressure on the joints and bones."

Even though her body was aching and her workouts were strenuous, she worked through the difficulties with a single goal; to return to flying.

"My main concern was when I would be able fly again," said Jones. "When I talked to the flight doctors, they said I'd be shooting to fly again in June. I was bummed that it would take so long. After I started progressing so quickly I knew I could fly sooner."

Jones' hard work and dedication in physical therapy paid off when she had her first flight since the accident, April 21, and felt as if things had gone well.

"The flight went great, I knocked off a lot of rust and have my confidence back," said Jones. "I felt better than I expected I would."

Jones' group commander took notice of her initiative and said what many of Jones' co-pilots were thinking.

"The fact that she is flying this soon, after an accident that should have been fatal, is testament to her hard work, determination and desire to fly," said Col. Timothy MacGregor, 47th Operations Group commander. "She belongs here as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot to teach the students what it means to be a pilot in the world's greatest Air Force."

Jones' next step is preparing to take the reins as an instructor once again.

"I'm hoping to be back flying with students in the next week," said Jones. "The only obstacle at this point is coming off a four month break and getting proficient in every maneuver so I can be the best instructor possible."

As Jones works toward instructing again she remembers why she has worked so hard in the first place.

"I was one of the kids who always knew they wanted to be a pilot," said Jones. "I grew up around Air Force jets, I knew that's where I belonged. Now I'm looking forward to being one of the Tigers again. This is the best squadron I could ask for."