Uli Derickson - Quotes

"I was most fortunate to have worked and flown with Uli many, many times. She was truly a fine lady, a great ambassador for our beloved TWA and a great flight attendant.

"She will be missed by so many that loved her for her courage, humor, professionalism, and most of all, her simple way for us to enjoy her company. Rest in peace nice lady."
- Captain Robert Dedman

"Uli Derickson should get a medal. For over 24 hours, she was on her feet, looking after the people, talking with the hijackers. She would talk them into letting the people get things like their pills from their bags. Some of the hijackers were pretty excited, and she would more or less calm them down. She was really cool - really understanding. TWA should award her a medal."
- Jose Delgado, a passenger on TWA Flight 847

"Most of us who knew Uli regarded her as a 'class act.' Because of her courage during the hijacking, she became known worldwide – favorably by most. She became a part of TWA history, and will be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her."
- Captain Charles Wieder

"I know about courage when I think of Uli Derickson, the TWA purser. Talk about bravery, she has it. I am sure she was frightened out of her wits. But she held on. She kept us calm. She took charge...I will always believe she saved our lives."
- Ann Summers, a passenger on TWA Flight 847

“Mrs. Derickson was truly a "Steel Magnolia." She had the inner strength of steel to look this great evil in the face, and the softness of a magnolia petal in her duty to her passengers.
God Bless Her!”
- Buddy Clayton, Navy radioman & friend of Robert Stethem

"People ask what she is like, and I say, you know, very strong. She had to be. She's also very approachable, very easy to talk to, and very human. She's quite a lovely woman, in a word, a hero, which is a word that is too often debased. But she really tried to make a horrifying situation different, she really did something, and is still affected by it.''
- Jim Calio, producer of "The Taking of Flight 847"

"Uli was an angel of God. She saved our lives, she really did. Afterwards, when people told her that she was a hero, she said she was only doing what she had been trained to do. I thought, 'No honey. You went above and beyond your training!'"
- Pamela Rice , a passenger on TWA Flight 847

"I flew with Uli when I flew out of New York. She often flew with her husband and he would do announcements in German. I have no problem seeing her as a hero and I know those of us that were glued to our TV sets in June of 1985 were proud of her and TWA. I did not know she had died; we have lost a valuable member of society, a gentle being and a true hero."
- Flight Attendant Kapye Fargason

"Uli was terror-stricken, as we all were, especially in the early stages on the plane. In spite of that, she stood up to the hijackers. There's no question in my mind that she prevented a lot of physical abuse and probably prevented further murders."
- Peter Hill, a passenger on TWA Flight 847

"Being that we both had similar names as flight attendants with TWA, I was frequently asked, 'Are you...?' 'No. That was not me.' But Uli was a very gracious and conscientious person and a symbol of a great flight attendant. She was well respected by many at TWA - she did a lot, not only for her passengers but the company. She will be missed.”
- Purser Ulie Grant

"I knew Uli and flew with her many times across the ‘pond.’ She was quite the professional purser/service manager and was liked by all. I’m sure you’re familiar with Flight 847 and her role in that event. It goes without saying that her intelligent handling of what was a bad situation resulted in an outcome that would have been worse had she not been on that flight."
- Captain Don Loeschner"