Miracle On The Hudson Official Reports On Us Airways Flight 1549 Ditching In The Hudson River January 2009 Captain Sullenberger Bird Strike Risk To Aircraft

The complete story of the amazing flight of US Airways 1549 is contained in this reproduction of the official National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the incident, along with the transcript of a hearing before a House of Representatives committee. In addition to coverage of the ditching, there is extensive information about the risk of bird strikes and efforts to mitigate the threat.On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 ditched into the Hudson River at approximately 3:30 p.m. following a double-engine failure while en route to Charlotte Douglas International Airport There were 150 passengers onboard the Airbus A-320 (N106US). Approximately 90 seconds after Flight 1549 departed LaGuardia International Airport ("LGA"), Captain Sullenberger reportedly experienced a double-bird strike on both CFM56-5B/P engines at approximately 2,700 feet above sea level, causing loss of thrust and power in both engines. During this time, Captain Sullenberger communicated with Air Traffic Control Specialist, Patrick Harten, at the New York TRACON LaGuardia Departure Facility regarding the status of Flight 1549. Captain Sullenberger reported that following the bird strike he took control of the aircraft from First Officer Skiles. Captain Sullenberger conferred with air traffic control ("ATC") to ascertain immediate landing sites. The first option contemplated was to return back to LGA; the second was to land at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. Mr, Harten communicated with 14 entities, including other aircraft in the vicinity and controllers at other ATC facilities to hold aircraft and to assist Flight 1549 in landing. Meanwhile, the pilots ran through their dual-engine failure checklist. They attempted to restart the engines and regain power in the aircraft, but the engines did not restart.When it became apparent that they would have to ditch the aircraft, Captain Sullenberger announced to the flight attendants and passengers that they should brace for impact. Passengers reported that after this announcement was made, the flight attendants began to shout instructions to passengers in unison - "heads down, stay down." The pilots then landed the aircraft smoothly in the Hudson River. From there, reports from passengers and crew indicate that the evacuation was fairly orderly. Passengers filed out onto the aircraft wings and into the raft slides on both the right and left front of the aircraft. Within minutes after the water landing, ferry boats, police boats, and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued all 155 people. Four were injured, including Flight Attendant Welsh.

The remarkable true story of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s heroic crash landing in the Hudson River, as told by the passengers who owe him their lives. Millions watched the aftermath on television, while others witnessed the event actually happening from the windows of nearby skyscrapers. But only 155 people know firsthand what really happened on U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009. Now, for the first time, the survivors detail their astounding, terrifying, and inspiring experiences on that freezing winter day in New York City. Written by two esteemed journalists, Miracle on the Hudson is the entire tale from takeoff to bird strike to touchdown to rescue, seen through the eyes and felt in the souls of those on board the fateful flight. Revealing many new and compelling details, Miracle on the Hudson dramatically evokes the explosion and "smell of burning flesh" as both engines were destroyed by geese, the violent landing on the river that felt like a "huge car wreck," the gridlock in the aisles as the plane filled swiftly with freezing water, and the thrill of the passengers' rescue from the wings and from rafts—all of it recalled by the "cross section of America" on board. Jay McDonald, a thirty-nine-year-old software developer, had survived brain-tumor surgery just two years earlier and now faced the unimaginable. Tracey Wolsko, a nervous flier, suddenly became other people's rock: "Just pray. It's going to be all right." Jim Whitaker, a construction executive, reassured a nervous mother of two young children on board, only later admitting, "I was pathologically lying the whole time." As the plane started sinking, Lucille Palmer, eighty-five, told her daughter to save herself: "Just leave me!" Featuring much more than what the media reported—moments of chaos in addition to stoicism and common sense, and the fortuitous mistakes and quick instincts that saved lives that otherwise would have been lost—Miracle on the Hudson is the chronicle of one of the most phenomenal feel-good stories of recent years, one that could have been a nightmare and instead became a stirring narrative of heroism and hope for our times.

On January 15, 2009, about 1527 eastern standard time, US Airways flight 1549, an Airbus Industrie A320-214, N106US, experienced an almost complete loss of thrust in both engines after encountering a flock of birds and was subsequently ditched on the Hudson River about 8.5 miles from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York City, New York. The flight was en route to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, and had departed LGA about 2 minutes before the in-flight event occurred. The 150 passengers and 5 crewmembers evacuated the airplane via the forward and overwing exits. One flight attendant and four passengers were seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged beyond repair. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ingestion of large birds into each engine, which resulted in an almost total loss of thrust in both engines and the subsequent ditching on the Hudson River.

The remarkable true story of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s heroic crash landing in the Hudson River, as told by the passengers who owe him their lives. Millions watched the aftermath on television, while others witnessed the event actually happening from the windows of nearby skyscrapers. But only 155 people know firsthand what really happened on U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009. Now, for the first time, the survivors detail their astounding, terrifying, and inspiring experiences on that freezing winter day in New York City. Written by two esteemed journalists, Miracle on the Hudson is the entire tale from takeoff to bird strike to touchdown to rescue, seen through the eyes and felt in the souls of those on board the fateful flight. Revealing many new and compelling details, Miracle on the Hudson dramatically evokes the explosion and "smell of burning flesh" as both engines were destroyed by geese, the violent landing on the river that felt like a "huge car wreck," the gridlock in the aisles as the plane filled swiftly with freezing water, and the thrill of the passengers' rescue from the wings and from rafts—all of it recalled by the "cross section of America" on board. Jay McDonald, a thirty-nine-year-old software developer, had survived brain-tumor surgery just two years earlier and now faced the unimaginable. Tracey Wolsko, a nervous flier, suddenly became other people's rock: "Just pray. It's going to be all right." Jim Whitaker, a construction executive, reassured a nervous mother of two young children on board, only later admitting, "I was pathologically lying the whole time." As the plane started sinking, Lucille Palmer, eighty-five, told her daughter to save herself: "Just leave me!" Featuring much more than what the media reported—moments of chaos in addition to stoicism and common sense, and the fortuitous mistakes and quick instincts that saved lives that otherwise would have been lost—Miracle on the Hudson is the chronicle of one of the most phenomenal feel-good stories of recent years, one that could have been a nightmare and instead became a stirring narrative of heroism and hope for our times.

How can a 10 pound bird bring down a 150,000 pounds aircraft? How would you feel if you were the captain on that aircraft, responsible for 155 souls? What would you do to prevent the disaster? How would you communicate with other crew members and the passengers? How would you determine where to try to ditch the plane in an unprecedented situation? How would training and experience influence your decision? What lessons can we learn from Captain Sullenberger's calm actions which incredibly saved all lives onboard? Successful Ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 on Hudson River by Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles on January 15, 2009 - This edition provides all the details of this incredible event, transcripts of pilot's communications and the final results of a thorough investigation. They analyzed in great detail the aircraft, the accident, the damages; the personnel on board and on the ground, their training and their communications, their actions during the accident; the survival aspects, the birds, the meteorology and more. Finally they drew their conclusions and put together their recommendations based on the results of the examination, to prevent similar events in the future.

How can a 10 pound bird bring down a 150,000 pounds aircraft? How would you feel if you were the captain on that aircraft, responsible for 155 souls? What would you do to prevent the disaster? How would you communicate with other crew members and the passengers? How would you determine where to try to ditch the plane in an unprecedented situation? How would training and experience influence your decision? What lessons can we learn from Captain Sullenberger's calm actions which incredibly saved all lives onboard? Successful Ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 on Hudson River by Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles on January 15, 2009 - This edition provides all the details of this incredible event, transcripts of pilot's communications and the final results of a thorough investigation. They analyzed in great detail the aircraft, the accident, the damages; the personnel on board and on the ground, their training and their communications, their actions during the accident; the survival aspects, the birds, the meteorology and more. Finally they drew their conclusions and put together their recommendations based on the results of the examination, to prevent similar events in the future.

A hearing about the collision of an airliner with a flock of birds which forced the pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, to land the crippled aircraft on the Hudson River, which he did successfully.

"The wheels lifted off runway 4 and I heard the familiar sound of the landing gear retracting, followed by the slight feel of them tucking themselves into the wings. The takeoff felt smooth and perfect, and I reclined my seat just slightly to make a little more room to adjust to the confinement of a coach window seat. "Then I heard a noise I had never experienced before on a plane. It was like a thud of something impacting the fuselage somewhere, but exactly what it was or where it hit, I could not discern. Within an instant, I was jolted out of my quiet, personal sojourn by a loud explosion. I heard it come from the left, but it also seemed to be everywhere at the same time. The plane shook violently from side to side, and then settled back to normal. 3:27:32 New York TRACON: "cactus fifteen forty nine turn left heading two seven zero" 3:27:36 Captain Sullenberger: 'ah this is uh cactus fifteen thirty nine hit birds we lost thrust in both engines we're turning back towards Laguardia'". Whether you are an aspiring Christian, Jew or Muslim, regardless of race or creed, I pray some part of this story may kindle a greater sense of hope in you toward man, and invite you to a deeper trust in the mercy of God. If you have found it hard to believe in a benevolent, loving Creator, then maybe you will find this a heartfelt opportunity to reconsider.