Theodore's World

I watched this on the news yesterday and it is truly amazing that there were no serious injuries. It could have turned out so much worse. A tribute to the steadiness of this pilot in under a difficult situation. From what I have seen, that is a common trait with most airline pilots.

Bob A.

In response to my first comment, I have to commend Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III for his skill in bringing what could easily have been a complete disaster to a complete triumph. I can only imagine the love these passengers feel for this extraordinary man and the thanks for his being their pilot by the grace of God.
Bob A.

Incredible. Credit has to be given to the creators of that A320 as well. From what I've gathered on Airliners.net it has a ditch button that essentially closes all the holes so it can float longer. I don't think that's exclusive, but definitely has to have helped in this case.

How he an his crew pulled that off in such a brief time is simply amazing.

Whew, those folks dodged a bullet on that one. My first non military flight scare was in August 1969, only 1000 miles off Guam the TWA 707 lost it's starboard inboard engine, we dropped like a rock in the thin air with people and stuff stuck to the ceiling before the pilots regained control.
I spent many years flying to and from work and other destinations, racking up well over 1000 commercial flights, most of them in the Arctic. Inevitably you have a scare or two, but nothing like this. I had one flight where the 727's flaps wouldn't retract after take off with marginal fuel, bad weather prohibited going back and forced low altitude all took their toll, we landed safely 350 miles later - on fumes.
Landed very hard a few times, once the 737's wingtip hit the tarmack, another time we slid the 737 off the runway. There was another flight I missed being on that landed on a foamed runway without it's landing gear, it was my normal flight but I had missed it by one hour.

What that New York flight crew pulled off is nothing short of a miracle, it didn't flip end for end and break up nor did the engines rip the wings off spilling jet fuel, they didn't have the luxury of jettisoning the fuel prior to the ditching, that's a lot of structural stress on any aircraft. Those folks will have some bad dreams for a while.

I used to love flying (in Cessna's), but the big birds took the joy out of it. Thankfully I don't fly anymore.

Somehow I suspect this Man does not even realize what a hero he is!

What is upsetting to me is that I envision a number of lawsuits being filed against U.S. Airways for something completely out of their control - and I can just see the judicial system letting the plaintiffs get away with it. U.S. Airways is in a fragile enough position as it is, with the economy. [I'm not an expert in this area, but I have been married to a pilot for 20 years. I do know a little something...] I hope that U.S. Airways fights back and that the lawsuits are deemed frivolous. Perhaps with a little effort - grassroots or whatever it takes - we can take our Country back. Not allowing lawsuits for a pilot saving 150+ passengers over something totally out of his control is a start.

I heard the cause was Canadian Geese. The trouble with these geese is they are very prolific when it comes to mating, and multiply very quickly. Those huge Birds, about 24-30 pounds, flew into the engines. There is no Jet that can take that kind of a beating. As one pilot pointed out. They have a dilemma, they can't shoot the birds because 'PETA' will sue the Airport and other Animal-rights Whackos will cause more havoc. They have tried loud noises which worked for awhile, but the birds soon got used to that. Pilots would turn the radar on them and that helps but not all the time.

So for a bunch of damn geese we put American Lives to risk all for a damn bird that has migrated south and won't go home.

Amazing. Capt Sullenberger and co-pilot Skiles did a professional job. I don't know how much training they have had in ditching, but they did it perfectly.

BT in SA, I hope you are wrong about lawsuits, but I bet you are right.

There is more to this story that will come out after the NTSB has debriefed the crew and had time to do their job in analyzing what happened from the cause of the engine failures to the safe landing in the Hudson River. I can't wait to hear Capt. Sullenberger's version of what happened. He appears to have brought decades of pilot training and experience together to perform a miracle from what could have become a major tragedy.

The other half of the story was the immediate response of the New York Waterways and Circle Line ferries as well as other private and public agencies like the NYPD, FDNY, Port Authority Police, and various EMT entities. This coordinated perfect response was not an accident of fate but something all these people trained for after the events of 9/11. They should all be proud of what they did and the country should be proud that there are people from President Bush and the federal government, state and local governments, and private entities who are doing extraordinary things to serve and protect us all from both normal accidents and deliberate Islamofascist attacks. I thank them all.

Bob A., I agree, I heard on TV today that the pilot made two walk throughs after he was told all the passengers were off the plane. He just wanted to double check that no one was left behind. I liked how he did not just trust what he was told but he verified it with his own eyes.

Eden, good point too, I had not even thought of that.

Jack, wow, very scary, thank you for sharing about that.

I used to fly a lot for work, the flight that scared me from wanting to fly much again was Flight 800. I remember watching it on TV and just a feeling coming over me of this is something I am cutting way back on.

BT in SA, that happenes to me every so often so I just delted the extra one for you. No problem at all. I think it is just a tiny glitch in Hosting Matters that I use for posting my blog.

BT in SA, I hope no one sues, but you know what I think if we go by the people in general how every so often there are jerks out there, I would not be surprised. Disgusted big time but not surprised.

I asked Nicholas, if someone sues, they will be sueing a bunch of birds ( the culprit) now how stupid is that.

Mark, great comment, thanks for that about the Geese. I agree, I wish we could get them to fly back home and stay there.

Tom, yes it sure was amazing to watch. Everyone appreaed to be really calm. I think the confidence in the pilot and crew helped in that a lot and that feeling worked its way down through the passengers.

Tom, yes it sure was amazing to watch. Everyone appreaed to be really calm. I think the confidence in the pilot and crew helped in that a lot and that feeling worked its way down through the passengers.

Tom, yes it sure was amazing to watch. Everyone appreaed to be really calm. I think the confidence in the pilot and crew helped in that a lot and that feeling worked its way down through the passengers.

Les, your so right, these all had a part too and deserve a big thank you.

"New York Waterways and Circle Line ferries as well as other private and public agencies like the NYPD, FDNY, Port Authority Police, and various EMT entities"

Only a fighter pilot could have landed her in the best way possible in this situation. This is truly a miracle of miracles. If you don't believe in God, please, see this as proof. No one died, no one was badly injured and all is well. It could have been so much worse--going in with the nose down or hitting a wing and cartwheeling. Sully is an excellent example of those who have served and are serving today. He and Jeff Skillings, the co pilot are heroes, as are the water taxi drivers and those tug boat captains who came to the aid of those in need. New York showed all of us once again, what a truly great city she really is.

SPangdahlem AB in West Germany and F-4 Phantoms UP ('80-'82)! Our pilot at the Eagle Wing saved his C-5 Galaxy, crew and 73 passengers after three of his four engines hit birds after take off. He landed his Galaxy after circling back onto the runway with one engine...God was his Co-Pilot too! These men and women are THE RIGHT STUFF!!!