Douglas A. Thomas was a respected metallurgist for Lukens Steel, a company based in Coatesville, Pa.

He had a reputation for talking with shop workers about problems with steel and was ''very highly thought of as a metallurgist,'' said his supervisor, Fred Fletcher.

Mr. Fletcher described Mr. Thomas as a ''terrific individual.''

Mr. Thomas was returning home from a business trip to Cincinnati - a trip he made frequently.

He was married and had two children, Mr. Fletcher said.