Brian was my Nephew and an Extraordinary Man. As talented as he was, he was always Humble. He excelled at everything he did never complaining yet always achieving. In his career as Captain for United Airlines, he is in the FAA History Books for avoiding a Catastrophic crash of the Plane he was Piloting over the Andes Mountains when the Plane lost complete power. He flew the Plane to safety manually thus avoiding a Disaster and saved many lives. He loved his Life and the people in it. His precious daughters , Lisa and his Family. Brian was a Light in this World and he missed by all. Rest in Peace my dear and sweet Brian...

Uncle Daniel

There was never a finer or kinder Man than Brian Witcher...His dedication to his Career with United and to all his Family and Friends went above and beyond. He is missed and will always be...

Uncle Daniel

I flew many times with Brian and always admired the way he ran his flights. What a professional he was. 

I miss you my friend. I will see you again one day. 

Godspeed !

Brian will be sorely missed and remembered fondly.  I was always happy to see his name as my Captain at the start of my trips.  Brian was always kind and professional.  Thank you Captain for keeping us safe.



Brian you are already so missed by many who loved and had the privilege of knowing you. You’re kindness and love sharing your experiences that made you happy was your mark on everyone’s life never to be forgotten. A loving Son, Dad,Brother,Uncle, Coworker and friend. You are an unforgettable human being never to be replaced. We love you and God bless

Forest Lawn South would like to express our deepest and sincerest condolences to you and your family at this most difficult time.  

We wish you peace to bring comfort, the courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.

Sincerely, 
Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens South Staff


I remember walking across the street where we were raised in Ft. Lauderdale and fishing from the canal with our balled up bread on hooks, catching chubs!
I remember having to sit in the back of dad's single engine while you got to sit in the left seat, the flying fever had begun!
I remember our sailing days and regattas, you were a great captain on the Hobie Catamaran as well!
I remember how proud we all were when you got pilot of the year with United in 2005.
I have so many more memories and will never forget my generous, loving, professional, comedic,  and smart brother of 60 years - I love you
Barb



As the sun sets on a another day, we are thinking of you. Fly high RIP.            We Love You Now And Always.     Till We Meet Again                                        Dad , Mom,& Fran


Dearest Witcher Family and Extensions.  It was just a drop in time, but I have the sharpest memories of the love for all.  I know Edith Cook is baby sitting her Brian whom she loved liked me.  I hope you all share the comfort of her taking care of Brian.  Praying for you all and always.  Love, Kinga Louise Cook

Brian Paul, I’m certain was named after his Uncle Paul Skidmore, my Dad, and Brian’s Mom’s big brother. 
I’m the eldest of all of the Skidmore grandchildren , and remember the births of each and every one of my little cousins.
Because our relationships were limited to adoring all of the newest members of the families to annual Christmas cards and pictures, we did not have the opportunity to nurture close ties. But, my Aunt Betty and her wonderful family were my favorite people to visit in Florida, and eventually I lived with them when I first moved to the south. 

Brian was a handsome, smart, funny and most energetic little guy as a child, and as he grew and became a most accomplished man, we all puffed our chests with great pride as he used all of his talent and intellect to achieve his career goals. 

He had the most amazing big brown eyes with lashes that l envied! And, the cutest freckles across his suntanned smiling face! 

We were so proud of you, Brian, and although we seldom touched, we loved you from afar.
My heartfelt condolences to all of our family who are grieving now. You will be missed by so many, and we pray you are free and flying with the angels now,
Much love, 
Cousin Sharon 



Thank You to all who have written their memories of my Nephew Brian Paul Witcher. He was an extraordinary Man with great skills and talent. He was also a very humble person who always showed kindness, generosity and compassion. He liked to tease me about being a Conservative and we always respected each other's beliefs regardless. He was a good Soul and a great Man . We will miss him. He is now flying with Angels. Rest In Peace Brian and GOD Bless You and your Family.

My brother my friend. The time we drove that car to Philadelphia to the Mike Douglas show and ended up upside down somewhere on i95 in north Carolina,  the time we flew that 4 seater piper from Asheville NC to fort Lauderdale and landed at the wrong airport just north of Melbourne Florida, the countless times you brought me in when I was at the end and bought me my first real guitar. Not one day in my life did you not want to help me and now I know why, because you just wanted me to be better then I thought I could ever be. I let you down but i won't do that anymore. Love you forever my best brother.

Am so sorry for the family.  Have known them since Mom Betty and Gary moved next door in Glenview Illinois.  Have visited many times and watched the many changes through the years weddings, births, deaths.  So sorry to hear about this and the loss to be suffered.  Will keep the family in my thoughts. 

Brian and I attended college, worked together as flight instructors and graduated from Louisiana Tech. I have a lot of good memories of my college years with Brian. Rest in peace my friend. 

Everyone's thoughts, prayers, kind words and actions mean so much to us. We hope you can attend Brian's service on the 10th. Thank you. Lisa, Lily, and Grace Witcher

Flew Deep South flights with Brian, he was always cool calm and collected.  A true professional, he will be missed

Had the honor of flying with Brian many times. The ultimate professional, leader and Captain. He taught me  a lot about Deep South flying.  You are missed my friend.

I have flown with Brian on both the 767 and 777 for the past 20 years. I was always impressed by his professionalism, his calm presence and his cool leadership. He always seemed so on top of everything during the flight that I just felt like I was always trying to catch up to him. I always enjoyed flying with Brian. 

I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. He was a wonderful man and he will be sorely missed. God bless you and your family, Brian. 

I know Brian since the 80"s. He was funny and easy to get along with. I remember when we used to go to the keys with my husband and Jason.  He gave my husband a boat. We still have that boat. We played in the water and ate like kings. Those were good times. I was happy to see him not too long ago when we flew to Argentina and he was our captain. He did everything he could to make us confortable. I was very proud to be with him around the airports and inflight.  I always remember him when I brush my teeth and leave the top of the toothpaste open.   He would bring this to my attention back many years ago. Just a memory of him.
Love you Brian and you'll be missed. 

Flew relief first officer when we all were first officers with Brian. He was smart corteous, professional and very low key cool. Just learned of his passing sad news.  My wife and I were neighbor's to Billy and his wife and we wish Billy and the entire family God's greatest blessings always. Rest well Brian, it was an honor knowing and working with you.

Brian is a neighbor of ours.  He always waved as he went pass the house.  He had a great sense of humor that you would have to know him to understand.  We will miss him dearly.  Fly high my dear friend...

We have lost a brother of our United Family, a great person and Captain , R.I.P. Brian , our thoughts and prayers for your family.

I consider myself lucky to have flown with such an amazing captain. He was a generous and kind man. Rest In Peace. 

Anytime Brian was in Command was a night in which the Chief Pilot could sleep soundly knowing UAL was in good hands. We will miss him terribly. My prayers of Peace for his family. 

Exactly what Dan Petrovich said about Brian’s extraordinary piloting skills which he demonstrated in the heat of a battle that few are ever called upon to muster.   That backdropped by the gentlemanly and kind man that we all knew Brian to be leaves us with deeply sullen hearts.  Rest well, Brian.  Our brother. 

Brian was a member of the "Buenos Aires flying club",  a group of relitivily senior pilots that flew the route on a regular basis  a few years ago. I had the privilege of flying with Brian on a regular basis.  He was always a pleasure to fly with and was probably the most knowledgeable  and skillful pilot in the "club".  Fly west peacefully,  you will be missed. 

Brian was a true professional and overall great guy, he will be missed by all!



Brian and I shared both the bond of being brothers, learning to fly, teaching others to fly and becoming career airline pilots.  His achievements and accomplishments clearly established. We would discuss different situations we each encountered at work and typically agree on each of our solutions. As now it seems that time went by in a flash.
Our Family deeply thanks all that knew Brian well enough to appreciate his goodness and kindness. Personally I never heard Brian speak badly about anyone. 

I had the privilege of flying with Brian on a trip to Buenos Aires not too long ago. Brian was at the top of his game. We have lost an excellent, great pilot and friend. My sincerest condolences to the family. We will miss him very much. Christopher Beckford.

Captain Brain Witcher was a pilot’s pilot.  He will be greatly missed by his company and colleagues .  If you had the privilege to fly with him, as I did in my 36 years as a commercial pilot, you witnessed a truly remarkable human being.  He was a deeply professional and compassionate individual who brought out the best in the people he flew with.  Rest In Peace my friend.

Very sad indeed.
Brian was a great pilot and had a great attitude about flying.
May he rest in peace.

I first met Brian in 1985 as part of the United pre-hire new hire pilots.  I had the opportunity to fly with Brian, a consummate professional, to both South America and Europe on a few occasions.  A few years later years later I served as one of Brian’s union representatives.  Eventually, in 2003 - 2004, I worked as Brian’s chief pilot in our Miami Domicile.  Less than a month before the closure of our pilot base, late on the evening of April 13, 2004, United Flight 854,  a Boeing 767 from Buenos Aires to 
Miami, was flying over Colombia in South America when they suffered a complete AC electrical failure.  Capt. Brian Witcher commanded the flight along with First Officers Donald Arlotta and Ross Windom.  Brian led the flight to a successful landing, at night, with no electrical power, no radios, no lights, and only 2 volts left on the battery for emergency flight instruments, into an unfamiliar airport in mountainous terrain after flying 41 minutes over the jungle.  Pilots like Brian are a rare find and an honor to have known and shared time with in our journey through life.  Rest In Peace my friend.

Brian was the flight instructor that taught me to manage that little Cessna.  May he Rest In Peace!

OBITUARY

Brian Paul Witcher

October 21, 1958 – June 20, 2019

Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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