America's Newest Hero: Capt. Jack Conroyd

Sept. 27, 2010— -- He is credited with saving the lives of more than 60 people during a heart-stopping emergency landing at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport when the plane's landing gear failed to work properly. Meet America's newest hero -- Capt. Jack Conroyd.

Conroyd and his co-pilot Larkin Newby were identified as the pilots of the Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 4951 who executed an emergency crash landing on a JFK runway Saturday night, a senior Port Authority told ABC News.

None of the 64 passengers on board the CRJ 900 twin-engine jet were injured.

Conroyd declined to discuss his heroics when reached by ABC News today, and indicated any comments would have to wait until an investigation of what happened is concluded.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines is "extremely proud of the crew's actions," ASA spokesman Jerek Deem said.

The spokesman said its own internal investigation team was working with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Conroyd is in line to become the most celebrated pilot since Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed his crippled jetliner on the Hudson River in January 2009.

Sullenberger applauded Conroyd's landing, telling the New York Daily News, "I commend the crew for ensuring a successful outcome for everyone on board."

A former naval aviator, Conroyd, 55, has received a Bronze Star, a Navy Marine Commendation Medal, and five other awards. He joined the military in 1978 and was stationed in Japan and California, spending one year aboard the super carrier the USS Ranger. He obtained the rank of lt. commander and left the military in 1994 to begin a career in commercial aviation.

Conroyd's performance was also hailed by his neighbors in Lake Mary, Fla.

"He's great. He's a real nice guy," said Bill Faulkner who has lived across the street from the pilot since 1989. "It's pretty remarkable... You have no idea who you associate with and what great things they can do. He's the kind of guy I expected that from."

George Barth said he's often seen Conroyd in his pilot's uniform, and is delighted at his neighbor's success. "I'm very glad that he's okay."

Cell phone cameras captured the terror and fear of passengers on the Delta Connection flight that was forced to make an emergency landing Saturday night.

The flight was headed for White Plains, N.Y., from Atlanta when a malfunctioning landing gear prompted the pilot to divert landing plans to JFK.

The pilot told air traffic controllers that "the right gear is stuck up, the other two are down."

Controllers told the crew that "emergency equipment will be standing by midfield as a precautionary measure."