TRIBUTES were paid last night following the death of the pilot who flew Pope John Paul II to Ireland on his famous visit.
The family of Captain Thomas McKeown had just dusted down the photographs of his experiences whisking taoisigh and famous Hollywood
figures throughout the world for his 90th birthday celebrations last
October.
His daughter, Colette Farrelly, last night said he had died
peacefully on Friday night surrounded by family members at the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords, Dublin.
"Captain Thomas McKeown or 'Tommie', as he was known to colleagues and friends, gave 34 years of dedicated service to Aer Lingus and will be most remembered for commanding the papal flight, with Pope John Paul II, from Rome
to Dublin in September 1979," an Aer Lingus spokeswoman said.