Air Safety

'He Did a Very Good Job'

An experienced pilot describes the difficulty of water landings, like the successful one for US Airways flight 1549.

By Kurt Soller | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 15, 2009 | Updated: 5:45  p.m. ET Jan 15, 2009

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  • Posted By: RandyHiggins @ 01/16/2009 11:20:28 AM

    God allowed an event that could have been tragic to remind us that the best we do and build can be struck from the sky by birds. I can also celebrate the inauguration, even though I didn't vote for President Obama. I celebrate because of the reminder that God's hand sustains the president, guides his heart, and pours out his grace on each individual. We all have something to celebrate. Not because we are the center of attention today, but because God blesses us in ways we may never be aware of. Every good gift comes from God!

    • Posted By: Red Meat Democrat @ 01/16/2009 12:21:24 PM

      Oh good grief, it didn't take long for the god squad to start adding their inane drivel. I guess god must have been taking a day off when the 911 hijackers decided to take their little joy ride. Give credit where credit is due - to the flight crew and plain old good luck.

      • Posted By: Pamrojo @ 01/31/2009 9:56:22 PM

        God (wth capital G) never takes time off. He could have stopped 9/11 but why should He? The United States is full of non-believers, pagans and athiests so why should God always step in and stop the ones who worship Satan from doing what they're going to do. He was there to comfort His children. He sent His angels to take those who believed in Him to their reward. It's a shame that it doesn't take long for non believers to try and take away our rights as believers to say what we feel too. You don't agree - that's your right - but I exercise my right to say what I believe too.

  • Posted By: exAF @ 01/22/2009 7:37:12 AM

    I lost a good friend in the Elmendorf flight. The Air Force AWACS plane (Yukla 27) lost 2 engines (number 1 and 2). The other two engines were not effected.

  • Posted By: exAF @ 01/22/2009 7:36:02 AM

    I lost a good friend on the Air Force plane mentioned above. The Air Force flight (Yukla 27) only lost two of the four engines (1 and 2).

  • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 2:52:38 PM

    I would like to extend my sincerest apology to everyone for ever responding to asapbb's political remarks. It just angered me that a person (Republican or otherwise) would use this forum to express their political disgust over our president-elect after what we've been through over the past eight years under a president who has brought this once great country to its knees and marred our country's honorable reputation around the globe. I realize I could have made my point that this is neither the time nor place for political discussion in a far less angry manner. I am just suffering from a great deal of stress, anxiety, and anger over how the handling of this country's affairs, especially economically speaking, has left this single, white female broke, hungry, and cold...not to mention the countless others who are also in my shoes as a result.

    So, please forgive me and, from this point forward, let's all please try to keep the discussion out of the political arena and focus only on the miracle we should all be rejoicing. All those aboard that flight deserve our full attention and respect.

    • Posted By: asapbb @ 01/16/2009 10:43:05 PM

      I was not the one that brought politics into this arena. YOU seemed grateful that this even turned out so well so as not to mar Obama's inauguration. I questioned why YOU brought politics into this. The two events have nothing to do with each other. Had this event been a tragic event in history, you could have still celebrated the inauguration. I felt like you were trying to capitalize on something that could have been horrible to further your political views. If you'll go back and read my orignal comment, that's about all I said -- that the two events are separate issues and should not be linked.

      • Posted By: asapbb @ 01/18/2009 8:04:15 PM

        I guess I owe you a small apology. When I looked back at your original message, I realized that it was "avinor" or some similar name, not you, that was so grateful that the tragedy was averted so as no to mar the inauguration. It was neither you, nor I, but "avinor" that brought politics into this arena. My comments should have been directed to that poster, not you.

      • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/17/2009 12:58:26 AM

        Geez!! How delusional can you be? Let me just copy and paste your own words here for you to eat...

        "I agree that every American should be grateful that a tragedy was avoided. I'm not so sure that 46%+ of the population will be joining you in rejoicing about our new president's inauguration."

        Nuff said.

        • Posted By: asapbb @ 01/18/2009 7:34:04 PM

          I was going to let your comments go out of repect for those who endured this event, but since there hasn't been a comment posted in a few days, I decided to respond since I doubt anyone will see this except for you. You believe that I was the one who brought politics into this. I disagree. See my comment on 1-16 at 10:43 PM. You disagreed and quoted PART of my previous comment. You left out the part where I said the two events were unrelated and I questioned why you tried to link the two. You seemed so thrilled that this event didn't turn out to be a disaster ONLY because it would have taken some of the attention from the upcoming inauguration. It did not seem that you cared about the individuals on that plane, only that the inauguration would be sharing the media limelight with a tragedy. If I really gave a hoot about making my point, I'd go back and quote YOUR original comment which said something to the effect that it's a good thing this didn't turn out to be a period of mourning for our nation when we should all be rejoicing about our new president. Again, the two events are separate -- and we're not ALL rejoicing. One has nothing to do with the other. That's the ONLY point I was trying to make. This will be my last response to you. Obviously, it's futile to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

        • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/17/2009 1:02:24 AM

          Oh, and let's not forget your original post that was actually worded a bit harsher...

          "We're all grateful that this was not a tragedy. We are NOT, however, all rejoicing about the inauguration."

          Eat crow.

  • Posted By: DrPam @ 01/16/2009 6:41:08 PM

    Can we just thank this incredible pilot and his co-pilot and crew, who selflessly saved 155 lives without interjecting politics or religious beliefs. Can we just thank him/them, along with the folks on the ground and in ferries that got them out of the river as well. Thank them and praise them for their selfless acts, their courage and bravery, for putting the lives of others unknown to them personally above their own safety in their stellar efforts to save lives. Please.

  • Posted By: gliderguider @ 01/16/2009 9:32:21 PM

    C'mnon...the decision making process here is easy. As a glider pilot, and I believe Scully is one as well, he would know what to do at every point. It's a no brainer. Engine out, get the nose down, assess your options, L, R, straight, U? He chose left and landed low energy wings level.

    That simple. Not a hero. Just doing what he was trained to do. As a pilot, we're not thinking of the 150 people behind us...we're just worried about our own butts.

  • Posted By: Aubere @ 01/16/2009 7:34:39 PM

    So happy to read that everyone got out alive. When I initially heard that a plane had landed in the Hudson, my first thought was that most if not all were dead. I was relieved to hear later that they were being ferried out and that the coast Guard and others were there to rescue the survivors. I was wholly overjoyed to find that not one person lost his/her life in this. The pilot and crew are to be commended for their handling of this dire emergency. What skill, what courage and determination. Thank God they're all alive and hopefully well.

  • Posted By: Aubere @ 01/16/2009 7:22:07 PM

    The pilot is to commended for his skill in landing that plane. I know the passengers were likely terrified of crashing and dying in the frigid water. Thank God no one was killed. When I heard that the plane had gone down in the water, I was sure that there would be casualties. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there weren't any. JOB WELL DONE.

  • Posted By: DrPam @ 01/16/2009 6:50:02 PM

    Can we please leave out the politics and religious beliefs and just thank the pilot and his co-pilot and crew for their courage, their bravery and selflessness. They put the lives of more than 150 unkown others above their own, and they did it without a second thought and they did it with calm confidence. And thank the crew on the ground and ferries that pulled them to safety once the plane was in the water and the pilot made sure everyone was out and accounted for. These people are true heroes, all of them, and especially the pilot and his co-pilot. Many may have the training, but its what you do with it when the worst happens that is the measure of the person. They have my thanks and grattitude.

  • Posted By: Kay123123 @ 01/16/2009 2:34:56 PM

    As someone related to pilots and somewhat more familiar than the general public to the airline industry, I congratulate and applaud the efforts of the pilot in safely landing this aircraft. I am somewhat confused that I have not read an account of the teamwork that must have been exemplificed in the cockpit between the captain and his first officer, has not been the subject in the media of these accolades. Does any body know his/her name?

    • Posted By: Iconoblaster @ 01/16/2009 5:58:02 PM

      The pilots name is Sullenberger... they say his friends call him "Sully". God bless him (a belated request on my part, obviously... God already did). I haven't heard the First Officer's name, but as folks here have noted, it was a team effort to bring that bird down on the water. The passengers, too, deserve a good deal of credit here. A panic could have made for a tragic ending...in as frightening a situation as this one, for everyone to remain calm and in control of themselves must have required some intestinal fortitude. And then there were the ferry operators and crews who were johnny-ob-the-spot to retrieve everyone from the plane and the river... a salute to all of them!

  • Posted By: madkat251 @ 01/16/2009 9:31:10 AM

    Giving PurpleIris the benefit of the doubt, I read that as more of a reference to 9/11 and the air tragedies that occurred at that time (2009-2001=8 years) Never mentioned a political party...

    • Posted By: johnytp@gmail.com @ 01/16/2009 5:20:36 PM

      This good luck what you talk is Gods grace. Every one has a view. Aappreciate it or ignore it...

  • Posted By: jchast @ 01/16/2009 2:54:36 PM

    For any of you jag offs who have something negative to say.... I have one thing to say... lets see you do what the pilot did.... For those that can pull it off, my hat is off to you. For those who can't... well you'd get what you deserve for being an a s s.

    • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 3:14:56 PM

      EEK, does this mean I'm an a s s because I can't fly a plane? LOL!! Just teasing you. *wink-wink*

  • Posted By: avinor @ 01/15/2009 7:46:58 PM

    Every American should be grateful to the extraordinarily skilled pilot of flight 1549. Instead of a national tragedy preceding the inaguration of the next president, we have a national hero who, through skill, experience, judgment, and steely nerves brought a potentially catastrophic situation to the vest best and safest conclusion possible given the circumstances. We owe this pilot, Chelsey Sullenberger, an enormous debt: Captain, the nation thanks you for sparing your passengers a terrible fate and the nation a period of mourning at a moment we should be rejoicing the inauguration of president-elect Obama.

    • Posted By: Dezi @ 01/15/2009 7:50:32 PM

      I could not have said it better.

      • Posted By: asapbb @ 01/15/2009 8:07:07 PM

        I agree that every American should be grateful that a tragedy was avoided. I'm not so sure that 46%+ of the population will be joining you in rejoicing about our new president's inauguration. What does one event have to do with the other and why are you choosing to link the two events? One has nothing to do with the other. Nuff said.

        • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/15/2009 11:40:38 PM

          Pfft...a typical Republican response...always thinking about how things affect only you and making snide comments when somebody doesn't express something that positively affects only you. Is that you, MR. Bush? LOL!! Get over yourself and stop being so negative in light of the fact that a tragedy was avoided this afternoon.

          NOTE: Not affiliated with any party...just pretty darn ecstatic that you Republicans didn't get your way this time.

          • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 12:05:42 AM

            For those Republicans who actually do have some sense of community no matter who's heading the oval office, I just wanted you to know that I'm not referring to any of you individually. Rather, I'm referring to the overall attitude among the majority of Republicans. They didn't get their way, so they must whine, kick, and scream like a bunch of unruly children even when everyone else is rejoicing in today's miracle.

            • Posted By: APilotsWife @ 01/16/2009 8:41:44 AM

              PurpleIris, I think it is you who is a sore loser for even having to bring up politics in the first place. This is not the time or place for politics. I find your responses quite surly and irresponsible, when we should all be - no matter what we are - thankful the this event turned out to be such a miracle.

              • Posted By: tersel62 @ 01/16/2009 12:35:40 PM

                The only people complaining about purpleiris are republicans. The miracle on the Hudson is linked only by proximity in date to the inauguration and some joyous folks are celebrating both. After 8 yrs of listening to neocons crowing, it is time for them to shut up and quietly go away while the rest of us Americans enjoy the state of the country and miracles like this one. Thank you, Sully!

                • Posted By: truth 555 @ 01/16/2009 1:11:45 PM

                  tersel62, you and PurpleIris are sick. I don't care about who is pres. or who lost. Its about a plane crash. Stop trying to bring something up that has divided this country. You are the type of people that hurt this country. Please leave and go to Iran or somewhere close. We don't want you in America. Please leave you make America worse.

                  • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 1:17:30 PM

                    OMG are you people really that blind? Why don't you read the "surly and irresponsible" remarks of asapbb who I was responding to just as you are responding to me. My intention was to make sure no other Republicans used this forum to whine and show what sore losers they are. Guess I have to agree with tersel.

                    • Posted By: truth 555 @ 01/16/2009 1:22:29 PM

                      PurpleIris, Its about how great the pilot is and the how great the crew is. Do not need to talk about the pres. or any of that. It should only be about the plane crash.

                      • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 1:35:44 PM

                        Couldn't agree with you more, so why doesn't everyone just move on? Why don't you try reading my post of 1/15 at 11:55:52 PM because it actually relates to what this discussion SHOULD BE ABOUT!!

                        Thank you, asapbb, for opening the door for all your whiner friends.

              • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 1:13:53 PM

                You people just don't get it. Since you obviously can't read what's right in front of you, I could care less what you think.

      • Posted By: asapbb @ 01/15/2009 7:58:58 PM

        We're all grateful that this was not a tragedy. We are NOT, however, all rejoicing about the inauguration. What does one event have to do with the other????

  • Posted By: eridon2002 @ 01/16/2009 1:32:14 PM

    Perhaps someone with more knowledge of the airline industry can further comment. In a down economy, do airlines lay off seasoned, experienced pilots so they can just have "cheaper" salaried younger or less experienced pilots? If so, I hope they take note of the lessons learned from this incident.

  • Posted By: eridon2002 @ 01/16/2009 1:28:17 PM

    Perhaps someone out there who knows the airline industry could further elaborate? In a down economy, do airlines force early retirement or layoff seasoned pilots in order to save money by having more "cheaper" salaried younger pilots? If so, I hope they take note of the value of experienced pilots that this story tells.

  • Posted By: ChrisS @ 01/16/2009 1:17:27 PM

    The news is riddled with stories of people who are incompetant, greedy, arrogant, rude, petty, and/or apathetic. This strory has somewhat renewed my faith in the human spirit. Thank you to Mr. Sullenberger for being an excellent pilot, and for taking care of the passengers who entrusted you with their safety. He was the last one out of the plane, after he had checked it twice to make absolutely sure everyone was out. We should all be grateful for a pilot this talented and selfless.

  • Posted By: fsilber @ 01/16/2009 12:37:39 PM

    Remember President Trumans sign on his desk -- "The Buck Stop Here." Ultimately, the man in charge has to take responsibility. The plane's crash landing might not have gone so well if John McCain had won. This is the kind of change that people hoped for when they gave Obama their votes.

    • Posted By: FlightPMedic @ 01/16/2009 1:14:43 PM

      <Boggle> Fsilber, have you lost your mind? I don't see how a President, who has YET to take office, could have influenced this incredible act of piloting! Whether Obama or McCain, your post is silly, to say the least, and seriously detracting from the skills of a fantastic pilot. I rather doubt that any of the passengers would sing praises that the President-elect saved their lives <LMAO>.

  • Posted By: catndhat @ 01/16/2009 2:14:24 AM

    PurpleIris what in the world does this unprecedented event have to do with politics. It may very well be the type of event to get the nation together and have something positive to gather around. We are all Americans first and party members second. Dont be a poor winner and admonish the loser. Be a good sport and be an American not a party member. Oh and if you are wondering, my vote was not on the other side of the ballot. So bring change now and change the rhetoric

    • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 1:11:25 PM

      Again, those words should be directed at the person who actually brought politics into the discussion, asapbb. I was simply trying to put an end to it myself by pointing out the obvious and also making sure that people understood my message wasn't directed at all Republicans. So, you're not saying anything I don't agree with, you're just directing it at the wrong person.

  • Posted By: catndhat @ 01/16/2009 2:09:19 AM

    purple iris I am a republican and all I am full of is hope. This situation and the happy ending can be taken as a sign of luck changing. No politics here just gratitude for the pilot who landed the plane and to the passengers who behaved in a manner that was calm and saved their lives. No whining no un-rule just a positive attitude that today's miracle can be a positive in the sea of negativity out there. So please leave the banter out of it and enjoy the miracle of the most positive outcome of a plane crash ever

    • Posted By: PurpleIris @ 01/16/2009 1:08:04 PM

      Excuse me, but my reply was in response to someone else who is obviously a Republican who chose to whine about something politically related simply because it didn't agree with what they wanted politically. My message was along the lines of leaving politics out of it, get over yourself, and stop being so negative on a day we should be rejoicing the miracle we all have the good fortune of witnessing. So, if you want to berate anyone for inappropriately bringing politics into the discussion, direct your remarks to asapbb, thank you.

  • Posted By: Doc Howl @ 01/16/2009 9:08:47 AM

    For his next trick, the pilot of the Airbus will run across Lake Michigan, and turn water into wine. LOL.

    Very well done.

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