The Hot Spot

Hudson River Plane Crash

Around 3:30 p.m. yesterday I was talking to my husband who works on the west side of Manhattan and he had told me that a plane had just crashed into the Hudson River. We both immediately thought it was a small 2 seater plane, but quickly found out that the plane was a commuter plane. The US Airways Flight 1549 held 155 people and just left LaGuardia Airport on its way to Charlotte, NC. It has been said, but the investigation is still going on, that the plane hit a flock of geese which injured both the engines and this made the plane unable to fly. 

It was a miracle that no one was seriously injured or killed. The passengers all got out, some stood on the wing and some went into the floats. Many of the NYC ferries and Circle Line Cruises helped in rescuing the passengers from the bitter cold waters. 

The pilot is being called a hero today for landing the plane in the river without hitting any building or destroying the lane. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, 57, landed the plane straight on so the plane would float long enough to get the passengers off. Sullenberger is a former fighter pilot who also runs a safety consulting firm in addition to flying the commercial aircraft. He has flown with US Airways since 1980 and flew F-4 fighter jets with the Air Force in the 1970s.

This was a tragedy that turned into a very happy ending thanks to all the people who helped in the rescue and to the hero pilot, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III.