Tragic news out of Chicago where Firefighter/EMT Michael Altman, assigned to
Truck Company 47, succumbed yesterday to injuries received while fighting a structure fire on the cities North Side this past Monday. Mike was a fourth-generation CFD firefighter and leaves behind a young son and a wife, who is pregnant.
My condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to Mike's entire family, including my Brothers and Sisters on the Chicago Fire Department, especially those on Truck 47, the 9th Battalion, Engine 59, Engine 70 and Ambulance 13.
May He Rest in Peace...
Tom
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4th GEN. CHICAGO FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY (The Secret List)
All,
The Chicago Firefighter that died in the Line of
Duty at the fire yesterday in Rogers Park has been identified. Firefighter EMT Michael Altman, 32, fell from the first floor to the basement and was rescued within one minute. He was transported to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries earlier today. The fire was in a 4-story apartment building.
Altman, a member of Truck 47 in Edgewater, was searching the building when he fell through the floor of the first story into a basement room that was well involved, and suffered extensive burns.
Firefighter Altman was married and the father of a young child, with another child on the way. He was a 4th-generation Firefighter (with his Dad and Uncles on the job as well as his grandfather, who was a former Fire Commissioner in the 90's.
--VIDEO SHOWING THE BUILDING:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So3GAcpTZnk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKONSN40fEw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMbRzq471_I
-FIRE COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKvQhjenpiY
(TODAY'S PROCESSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-kRCTgXto )
FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT THE ALTMAN FAMILY:
https://www.theyardfoundation.org/mayday/altman
Much more to follow.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass it On.
BillyG
The Secret List 3/17/2026-1559 Hours
No injuries after plane makes emergency landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
By Aspen Andrews
BROOMFIELD, Colo. (KKTV) - There were no
injuries after a plane made an emergency landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Tuesday, according to the North Metro Fire Rescue District (NMFRD).
Firefighters said they responded to a call at the airport at 10:30 a.m.
Upon arrival, crews said they set up near the runway for the emergency landing of a multi-engine aircraft. One of the plane’s engines had reportedly shut down.
According to firefighters, the plane was able to land safely in a field near the runway.
No injuries were reported.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the situation.
https://www.kktv.com/2026/03/17/no-injuries-after-plane-makes-emergency-landing-rocky-mountain-metropolitan-airport/
NTSB Final Report: Michael W Verzwyvelt SS-7 Super Sport
Pilot Was Unable To Complete Field Sobriety Exercises, And Two Breath Samples Provided By The Pilot Returned Results Of .21 And .17 Breath Alcohol Content
Location: Boise, Idaho Accident Number: WPR26LA046
Date & Time: November 8, 2025, 18:41 Local Registration: N14PM
Aircraft: Michael W Verzwyvelt SS-7 Super Sport Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: Law enforcement officers reported that they responded to the scene of an airplane accident that had taken place in an intersection about 2,500 ft northwest of the airport. Video captured by a vehicle dash camera showed the accident airplane impacted a traffic light before it came to rest in the roadway. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage, and both occupants received minor injuries.
According to a report provided by the law enforcement officers, the pilot showed several signs of alcoholic impairment immediately after the accident. The pilot was unable to complete field sobriety exercises, and two breath samples provided by the pilot returned results of .21 and .17 breath alcohol content. According to the pilot, he did not remember the accident flight but indicated there were no mechanical failures or defects that would have precluded normal operation prior to impact.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s operation of the airplane while intoxicated, resulting in its impact with obstacles while on approach.
FMI:Â www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
87 Years ago today:Â On 18 March 1939 The Boeing S.307 Stratoliner prototype was destroyed when it broke up during a test flight out of Seattle-Boeing Field, USA. All 10 on board were killed.
| Date: | Saturday 18 March 1939 |
| Time: | 13:17 |
| Type: | Boeing S.307 Stratoliner |
| Owner/operator: | Boeing |
| Registration: | NX19901 |
| MSN: | 1994 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1938 |
| Cycles: | 19 flights |
| Engine model: | Wright R-1820-G102A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Alder, WA -Â Â Â Â United States of America |
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Test |
| Departure airport: | Seattle-Boeing Field International Airport, WA (BFI/KBFI) |
| Destination airport: | Seattle-Boeing Field International Airport, WA (BFI/KBFI) |
| Confidence Rating: | Â Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
The Boeing S.307 Stratoliner prototype was destroyed when it broke up during a test flight out of Seattle-Boeing Field, USA. All 10 on board were killed.
Dutch airline KLM had expressed an interest in the newly developed Boeing S.307. The KLM technical director and a representative of the Dutch Air Ministry, Albert von Baumhauer, had traveled to Seattle for an evaluation of the aircraft. Von Baumhauer had particular interest in the stability and control of the aircraft.
The aircraft took off from Boeing Field, Seattle at 12:57 on test flight no. 19. The captain occupied the left hand cockpit seat, Mr. von Baumhauer occupied the right hand seat. Mr. von Baumhauer held a private pilot's license and his total flying time as pilot amounted to 116 hours. He had no experience as pilot or co-pilot of four-engine aircraft, but had been observer in trial flights of four engine Fokker F.22 and F.36 aircraft.
After takeoff the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 11000 feet. At this altitude longitudinal stability tests were made. The next tests, as outlined by the flight plan, were side-slip tests.
The aircraft went into an inadvertent spin subsequent to a stall at an altitude of approximately 11000 feet. It made two to three turns in the spin, during which the engines were used to aid recovery. In recovering from the dive subsequent to the spin, the wings and horizontal tail surfaces failed upward apparently due to air loads in excess of those for which the aircraft was designed.
Investigators noted that the captain on the flight was inexperienced in testing and demonstrating aircraft of this type, particularly with respect to the maneuvers called for. Also, Mr. Von Baumhauer, acting as copilot was inexperienced. Other potential factors were the sensitivity of the elevator and rudder control system, possible elevator flutter and insufficient vertical tail surfaces to give adequate control of the aircraft under all conditions of flight. The tail surface was changed and enlarged in production models.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Structural failure of the wings and horizontal tail surfaces due to the imposition of loads thereon in excess of those for which they were designed, the failure occurring in an abrupt pull-out from a dive following recovery from an inadvertent spin."
