Duluth Pilot Recalls Flight With NBC’s Brian Williams

Allan Kelly Sets The Record Straight

Sorry, this video is no longer available

Controversy continued to swirl Friday around NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams, with questions still being raised about his stories of past experiences, including a helicopter incident years ago in Iraq in 2003.

A Minnesota man served as a pilot on that flight and wants to set the record straight.

Allan Kelly has been through his fair share of interviews this week. 

But, Kelly told FOX 21 on Friday that the truth is the aircraft he was piloting with Williams inside was not shot down or even shot at. 

For years, Williams claimed he was aboard a Chinook helicopter in Iraq that was struck by a rocket propelled grenade and caught on fire back in 2003. 

“Two of our four helicopters were hit by ground fire including the one I was in,” claimed Williams. 

Kelly can’t speculate as to why Williams began changing his story.  But he recalls their flight very vividly.

Kelly says they were tasked to fly bridge pieces. 

They were part of a two-helicopter formation and heard over their headsets that an aircraft 30 minutes ahead of them had taken fire.

Suddenly, visibility became difficult for the crew.

“We had to slow down now we know we don’t have enough fuel.  We are hearing people taking fire over guard and we are wondering what we are getting into,” said Kelly. 

Kelly says Williams’ confusion may have been caused by what he heard through the headsets. 

“If he would have heard those radio calls over guard it’s possible he would have thought it was us taking fire.”

While committed to the truth, Kelly would never think of judging Williams. 

“It would be hypocritical of me to criticize him for that,” expressed Kelly.

Williams pulled himself from broadcasts earlier this week. 

His apology stated: “I want to apologize.  I said I was traveling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG fire.  I was instead in a following aircraft.”

The network later announced he would be placed on a six-month unpaid suspension. 

Kelly is currently a student at St. Scholastica majoring in computer science, is a father of four sons, and flies for the Minnesota National Guard.