Today is the 10-year anniversary of the landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River.
The flight with 155 passengers and crew aboard was cleared for takeoff at 3:24 pm bound for Charlotte, North Carolina. The first two minutes were normal, then the plane struck a flock of Canadian geese around 3,000 feet up in the air. The plane lost the thrust in both engines.
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger radioed back to the LaGuardia, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! This is Cactus (1549). Hit birds. We’ve lost thrust in both engines. We’re turning back towards LaGuardia.”
Less than a minute later Sully radioed that the plane would not make it back to LaGuardia and “we may end up in the Hudson.” A few seconds later Sully radioed, “We’re gonna be in the Hudson.”
Sully landed the plane on its belly in the Hudson near the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. He ordered the flight crew to evacuate the plane onto the wings. It was around 20 degrees outside.
The evacuation was difficult with a couple of elderly people who had used a wheelchair during boarding. There were also young children on board – including a family with four kids with the youngest a nine-month old. The crew worked tremendously together to get all out of the plane.
The plane drifted south in the strong currents of the Hudson. Several ferries, tugboats and other vessels were the first responders to catch up to the plane and help with rescue efforts.
Sully went down the plane’s aisles a couple of times to ensure that all passengers had been evacuated. Only then would he consider leaving the aircraft.
Ultimately, all five crew members (including Sully) and 45 passengers were taken to local hospitals for treatment. According to medical records, two passengers and a flight attendent suffered “serious” injuries. Others were treated for minor injuries or hypothermia.
“I think about not only what we did but what everyone else did,” Sully said on ABC. “All the pieces had to come together. This group of strangers had to rise to the occasion and make sure that they saved every life.”
A Miracle on the Hudson ten years ago!
A real, cool, story to celebrate again!
