Chesley B. Sullenburger, who piloted US Airways Flight 1549 in Manhattan on Thursday, is being touted as a true hero by the 155 passengers who walked away from what could have been a deadly disaster.
The commercial flight left LaGuardia Airport in New York City en route to Charlotte, North Carolina. Two minutes after take off a flock of birds damaged the planes engines and pilot Sullenburger had a major emergency on his hands. Unable to return to the airport and in a major metropolitan area, he told his passengers to brace for landing and he put the Airbus A320 down in the Hudson River.
The downed plane’s close proximity to nearby boats and barges enabled passengers to be swiftly rescued from the aircraft wings and rubber rafts. All were wet from the icy waters that quickly entered the plane and a few suffered minor injuries but there were no casualties.
Sullenburger, known as “Sully”, is a 29 year veteran pilot. New York City Mike Bloomberg spoke to the pilot last night and called his flat landing on the water a “masterful job.” According to reports, the US Airways captain walked up and down the plane’s aisle twice to ensure that everyone had escaped before he made his own exit.
Truly a miracle on the Hudson River. See video below. Bottom video is actual landing. Cockpit audio here.