Michael Durant is a retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Battle of Mogadishu, which occurred on October 3, 1993. He served as a pilot for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known for its elite capabilities.
Durant piloted the Black Hawk helicopter named "Super Six Four."
During a mission to capture high-value targets in Mogadishu, his helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).
After the crash, Durant defended himself with an MP5 submachine gun until he was captured by enemy forces. He was held as a prisoner of war for 11 days.
Durant sustained serious injuries, including a broken femur and crushed vertebrae. He was eventually rescued and returned to the U.S., where he continued his military career.
His experiences were later depicted in the book "In the Company of Heroes" and the film "Black Hawk Down," which dramatized the events of the battle.
After retiring from the military, Durant became a businessman and author. He founded Pinnacle Solutions, an engineering services company, and continues to share his story through speaking engagements.
The Battle of Mogadishu took place on October 3–4, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between U.S. forces and Somali militia fighters during Operation Gothic Serpent. Key events included a planned raid to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid's lieutenants, which escalated into an overnight standoff after Somali insurgents shot down two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters using rocket-propelled grenades, leading to 18 U.S. deaths and hundreds of Somali casualties.