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Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival

Surviving passengers and crew members of United Airlines Flight 232 gathered in Sioux City this past weekend to mark the 25th anniversary of the plane’s crash. On July 19th, 1989 the flight from Denver to Chicago slammed into a runway at the Sioux City airport and exploded into flames. Of the 296 people aboard, 184 miraculously survived.

In his new book, Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival, Laurence Gonzales re-creates the harrowing journey of both those inside the doomed plane and the rescue workers on the ground. He says the agonizing drama is uplifted by the heroism and self-sacrifice in the face of unimaginable horror.

Gonzales is the author of Surviving Survival and Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed why the plane crashed and the stories of survivors. For more information on Flight 232 and the book, including video, click here.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.