Former Detroit Firefighter Is Among Finalist For Flight 93 Award

DETROIT — A Detroit firefighter who died last year trying to save children from drowning in the Detroit River is among the four finalists for the inaugural Flight 93 Heroes Award.

The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial announced its four finalists on Tuesday and former veteran Detroit firefighter, Sgt. Sivad Johnson is among the four.

He will be honored for his courage and heroism at the event this Friday near Shanksville, PA, where the flight 93 jet crashed nearly 20 years ago.

The organization honors and memorializes people for their bravery just like the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 when they stormed the cockpit and stopped the hijackers from hitting their target on 9/11.

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While off-duty, Johnson was visiting Belle Isle with his 10-year-old daughter on Aug. 21 and when he heard a few young girls screaming in the Detroit River, he dove in trying to rescue three young girls.

Once the girls were safe, Johnson's daughter noticed her father was missing and called 911 at about 9:00 p.m. Authorities began a search and discovered Johnson's body in the river near the Detroit Yacht Club the next morning. Officials believe Johnson probably got dragged underwater but the river's strong current.

Although Johnson was off-duty, the Detroit Fire Department said Johnson's death will be classified as a line of duty death, The Detroit News said.

Johnson was 49 and a 26-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department.

Other finalist include:

Justin Gavin

On Sept, 9, 2020, Gavin saw a mother and three children traveling in a burning car in Waterbury, Conn. and jumped into action. He rescued all four before flames completely engulfed the vehicle.

Terry Ingram

On Jan. 9, 2020, Ingram was photographing eagles in Bellevue, Neb. when he witnessed a car plunge upside down into a freezing pond. He jumped into the icy water and pulled three men out of the vehicle as it was sinking.

Red Tate

On Nov. 27, 2020, Tate saw a truck strike a car, which then went down an embankment in Dekalb County, Ga. Tate pulled a man out of the car. Moments later the vehicle exploded into flames.