Darren Ellisor

Darren Ellisor is a U.S. Air Force veteran and commercial airline pilot with more than 25 years of aviation experience. Ellisor earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville. After graduating from the Air Force Academy, he flew multiple versions of the Boeing 707 in the Air Force, accumulating the majority of his flight time in the E-3 AWACS as an instructor and evaluator pilot. He participated in combat support missions during Operation Noble Eagle and deployments for Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch, as well as counter-drug operations. During his assignments at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and Geilenkirchen NATO Airbase, Germany, Ellisor served as squadron chief of standardization and evaluation and chief of flight safety.

After his military service, Ellisor transitioned to commercial aviation, flying in Europe and the Middle East before joining Southwest Airlines. He is a captain at Southwest Airlines with more than 11,000 flying hours, following over 10 years in the active-duty Air Force. His background in military aviation, including combat operations, instructor roles, and safety leadership, has contributed to his expertise in crisis management and aviation safety.

Ellisor was the first officer on Southwest Flight 1380, which experienced an engine failure shortly after departing from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The incident resulted in rapid cabin depressurization and required an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Working with Captain Tammie Jo Shults, Ellisor helped land the Boeing 737 safely with one engine, saving the lives of five crew members and 143 passengers. The National Transportation Safety Board cited metal fatigue as a contributing factor in the incident.

Following the event, Ellisor and Shults appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss the experience. Ellisor has since become a keynote speaker, addressing topics such as aviation safety, crisis management, teamwork under pressure, leadership, resilience, and preparation. His presentations draw on his firsthand experience in both military and commercial aviation, offering insights to corporate and public audiences.