[RIslander]

In 2006 a military C-5 crashed in Delaware. They suffered a failure with one of their 4 engines while on approach to land. The crew used improper procedures to identify the failed engine and throttled back a perfectly good engine. The insufficient thrust led to the inability to maintain a stabilized descent and a subsequent crash.

This crash marked a change in how all US airlines identify and respond to a failed engine. Both pilots must identify and verify a failed engine before adjusting anything. Generally, the procedure is to identify the engine, then identify the affected thrust lever and slowly bring to idle, while verifying no net loss of power. Then verify and shut down the engine (the shut down button will not work unless thrust level is at idle). Pilots do this over and over and over in the simulators until its drilled into their head and anything else feels awkward. Planes will fly for hours on one engine (even if its on fire... it'll burn up and fall off the wing before anything else happens) and the crew is expected to move slowly and deliberately.

Asian carriers have a reputation for producing book smart pilots. However, their practical abilities are often weak. For example, most Asian carriers prohibit their pilots from shooting approaches without instrument navigation, also known as a visual approach. (See Asiana SFO crash). US pilots are trained to know what they need to know. Everything else they know where to find. US pilot training concentrates on crew resource management and practical flying skills. US pilots do visual approaches all the time, 1 because its fun, 2 because it keeps skills sharp. Its encouraged as long as its stabilized and safe.

Sounds like this crew panicked, threw procedure out the window and bagged a good engine.