Melbourne-born and educated Richard de Crespigny first discovered his passion for flying at age 14 when his father arranged a tour of the RAAF Academy at Point Cook, Victoria. Inspired by the extraordinary facilities, he knew then that he needed to earn a university degree and become an RAAF officer and pilot.
In 1975, at 17, Richard joined the RAAF, and a year later, he began flying. During his 11 years with the RAAF, he served as Aide-de-Camp to two Australian Governors-General, Sir Zelman Cowan and Sir Ninian Stephen.
Richard remained with the RAAF until 1986, when he joined Qantas, transitioning to Boeing 747s. In 2008, he became one of Qantas's most senior captains, converting to A380 command.
In 2010, during the Singapore to Sydney leg of flight QF32, one of the four engines exploded, causing extensive damage to the aircraft. Richard faced the daunting task of keeping 460 passengers calm while managing the severely damaged aircraft. For two hours, he and his crew maintained their composure, stabilising the damage, configuring the overweight aircraft, and manoeuvring it back to Changi Airport in Singapore.
Upon landing, a stubborn engine refused to shut down, fuel leaked near the white-hot brakes, and a new potential disaster loomed. Passengers remained on board for two gruelling hours before being safely disembarked.
This incident highlighted Richard de Crespigny's exceptional skills in teamwork, problem-solving, judgment, knowledge, and experience, putting years of highly skilled training into practice.
This pivotal event has forever changed his life.
