Either it’s a small world or it’s happened more than once. lol.
Is it safer to crash an A-10 or eject in the event that the plane will no longer fly? Do pilots debate this?
We have manual reversion flight capability, meaning if the two hydraulic flight controls systems are shot out then you can manually fly the jet. This was to allow you to fly out of the combat zone and get somewhere safe to eject. However, some have returned and landed in manual mode. . .one Col lived but in another case the young Lt died.
No, they don't really debate the question as too many factors come into play.
Great jet, BIG gun, 30mm, 3500-3600 ft per second out the barrel, 120,800 RPM, able to penetrate an inch of armor at 8,000’ (F-16’s and others need to close to get that at 2,000’). Personally, back in the 80’s, I strafed soft targets out to 12,000’. . .and that was before advanced stabilization was added. . .