Nathan Fielder's dedication to flight training for the second season of The Rehearsal was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Some might even call it miraculous — though Fielder himself would likely downplay the term, attributing it more to your choice of words than his own grandiosity.
To substantiate his hypothesis that co-pilot-to-pilot communication is the leading cause of airplane crashes, Fielder embarked on an extraordinary journey. Over two and a half years, he transformed from a curious comedian into a certified pilot, obtaining his 737 certification. In the season two finale of the HBO show, he took to the skies with 150 actors as passengers and one real co-pilot, executing a flawless landing after circling San Bernardino multiple times. The flight concluded safely, leaving both passengers and viewers in awe.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, Fielder humorously branded his 737 passenger flight over the Mojave Desert as “The Miracle Over the Mojave.”
“Are they calling this ‘The Miracle Over the Mojave?’” Kimmel interjected, intrigued by the audacity of the claim.
“I feel like I’ve seen people calling it that — online,” Fielder replied in his characteristic deadpan tone. “If you look at the comments on this video when you post it, I think a lot of people will be referring to it as such.”
Fielder added, “I feel like I’ve even seen a Wikipedia page about it.” Although no such Wikipedia page exists as of now, YouTube comments have fervently embraced the phrase, validating Fielder’s prediction and intention.
“People are saying, among the ‘Miracle’ flights, which are flights branded with the word ‘Miracle,’ that this is the most significant one,” Fielder stated, hinting at a newfound confidence that bordered on pilot cockiness.
“More so even than the ‘Miracle on the Hudson,’ huh?” Kimmel asked, referencing the legendary US Airways Flight 1549 incident.
On January 15, 2009, an Airbus A320 suffered dual bird strikes shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York City, losing all engine power. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger executed a miraculous glide, landing the plane safely on the Hudson River. All passengers were rescued by boats, cementing the event as one of aviation's greatest feats.
“‘Miracle on the Hudson’ is another one,” Fielder conceded, before turning the situation into a lighthearted competition.
“Not to create a competition or anything,” Fielder said with a sly grin, “but I did put my plane down safely on land.”
He’s not wrong. His achievement stands tall, even if compared to aviation history's greats.
“I wouldn’t call myself — like, I’m not calling myself a hero,” Fielder continued modestly. “If people say that — I’m just doing my job.”
Gesturing towards Kimmel for a response, Fielder queried, “I don’t know if you would …”
“I’d say ‘hero,’” Kimmel responded without hesitation.
“OK, well, yeah that’s fair,” Fielder quickly agreed, accepting the compliment with grace.
Watch the video here:
