Would he ever fly again, now that his feet and right hand were gone? That was among the first things amateur pilot Brian Thomas wondered after he awoke from surgery in 2009. A blood disease similar to hemophilia forced doctors to make him a triple amputee, removing his right hand and the ends of his feet. A blog post by amateur pilot and journalist Miles O'Brien revealed this week that the former CNN anchor was also the victim of a medical condition that required amputation. O'Brien lost his left arm, sending concern throughout the online news and aviation communities. O'Brien, a correspondent for PBS "NewsHour," appeared on CNN for 17 years, mostly focusing on science, technology and aerospace coverage.
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Amputees can be certified to fly solo as pilots
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Brian Thomas lost his feet and right hand and still flies once a week
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Thomas said former CNN anchor Miles O'Brien could be back piloting "in no time"
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O'Brien posted on his blog that his left arm was amputated after an accident
When he awoke, doctors told @placeholder he would probably face amputations.