The 2009 plane crash entered aviation history when all passengers and crew members survived. This event has been likened to a “miracle on the Hudson River.”
Passengers evacuating to both wings waiting for rescue, as the US Airways Airbus A320 gradually sank into the Hudson River. (Photo: Reuters).
The Airbus A320 operated by US Airways took off from LaGuardia Airport and collided with a flock of Canada geese, causing both engines to fail and become inoperable. At this point, the aircraft had gone too far beyond LaGuardia, and there were no other airports nearby for an emergency landing.
The airplane was like a 60-ton bomb about to explode in a 3-minute countdown. Moreover, this flying bomb was passing over one of the most populated cities in the world, only about 274 meters away from the George Washington Bridge.
Then, a miracle happened. Captain Chesley Sullenberger, also known as Sully, and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles safely landed the commercial aircraft on the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew members aboard survived. The media referred to this incident as “The Miracle on the Hudson.”
In just one night, Captain Sully became a hero for making the bold decision to land the plane on the water. Federal investigators stated that the quick thinking of Flight 1549’s crew, along with the safety equipment of the plane, contributed to this miracle. Experienced pilots have said that no one should doubt Captain Sully’s decision. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not share this view.
All 155 people on the plane survived.
After the incident, numerous test flights simulating the accident were conducted. Some argued that the aircraft could have returned to LaGuardia or diverted to Teterboro instead of risking a descent into the river. The line between “hero” and “villain” for pilot Sully was very thin at that moment.
An article in the Wall Street Journal reported that pilots were able to successfully land at LaGuardia in simulated flights similar to what had occurred. However, these pilots were aware of the impending situation.
Captain Chesley Sullenberger (left) of US Airways and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles (right) speaking in the cockpit of an aircraft on October 1, 2009. (Photo: Getty)
Mr. Schiff, a retired airline pilot who has flown over 300 different aircraft, stated that simulating flying conditions is one thing, while the timing and psychological stress when an incident suddenly occurs is another matter.
Indeed, when tested with pilots unaware of the situation, they were unable to return the aircraft to LaGuardia. The investigation concluded that Captain Sully acted correctly in that situation. He did not become a villain but returned to his rightful place as a hero.
The aircraft is currently on display at a museum. (Photo: RadioFan/Wikimedia Commons)
The emergency landing on the Hudson River has inspired numerous books and films. The downed aircraft is now preserved and displayed at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. Following the accident, aviation safety authorities called for improvements in safety and technology, particularly to prevent foreign objects from colliding with aircraft engines.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board found feathers left in the aircraft’s engine. They sent these to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington for analysis. Here, experts from the Feather Identification Laboratory used gene molecular techniques and feather samples from the collection of the National Museum of Natural History to determine that the feathers found in the aircraft’s engine belonged to the Canada Goose (scientific name: Branta canadensis).
The Canada Geese involved in the accident are among the largest birds in North America, with each weighing an average of over 3 kg. The next step for scientists is to determine whether the geese involved in the accident were migratory or local. “Determining whether they are migratory is crucial for our research and will help implement measures to reduce future bird strikes with aircraft,” said scientist Peter Marra of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
