Michael J. Durant is a former United States Army pilot who is best known for his experience during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993. He was a chief warrant officer and was the pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during this operation. Durant's helicopter was called "Super 6-4," and after being shot down, he was captured by Somali militia forces. He was held as a prisoner of war for nearly 11 days before being rescued.
Following his release, Durant wrote a memoir titled "In the Company of Heroes," which recounts his experiences during the battle and his subsequent recovery. His story gained further prominence due to the portrayal of events from the Battle of Mogadishu in the book "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden, which was later adapted into a feature film.
After his military service, Durant pursued a career in aviation and became a successful businessman. He continues to speak publicly about his experiences and the lessons learned from his time in the military.
Piloting a U.S. Army Special Operations Blackhawk over Somalia, Michael Durant was shot down with a rocket-propelled gre...