The saga of US Airways Flight 1549 is one of those episodes that really make you stop and think. A lot of things went wrong on that ill-fated flight, but more importantly; a lot of things went right.
Passenger after passenger was quoted as saying that there was no panic on the airplane. Everyone, from the captain to the children on board, assessed their situation accurately and responded accordingly.
As a result of the controlled reaction of the people on board the aircraft, there was no loss of life. What should have been a tragedy was instead a tale of heroism and salvation. The rescue was flawless, and except for a few injuries, all are well.
It kind of makes me think. How would I respond in a crisis? Would I carefully assess the situation, and respond in a calm and precise manner that is appropriate for the dilemma?
Or would I panic and not only hurt myself, but others along with me?
I would like to think I would do the former. I will remember the lessons of US Airways Flight 1549 and apply them to everyday life, and I will be a better man as a result!
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I think I might have panicked at least a bit. However, the self-preservation drive is very strong so there is no telling where the inner strength comes from that allows you to do some miraculous things to keep yourself and your family safe
I am in awe of everyone involved yesterday: First, the pilot and co-pilot (no words to describe how I feel about the "under pressure" way they conducted themselves), the cabin crew, the passengers, and all of the emergency personnel that responded so darned quickly.
One of the keys (in my opinion) to their survival yesterday was that they all worked together without panicking.
Richard,
On a normal flight, it can 15 minutes or more for everyone to get off the plane. Here they did it in a matter of a few minutes. :)
Steve
Richard,
I'm thankful that nobody died in that incident. A lot of deserved praise goes to the pilot, Capt. Sullenberger III.
There is something about being in the body of a plane, and totally out of control, that makes people resigned to whatever happens.
Rich
This is such as great story and how positive can come out of a terrible situation.
Stacey-Ann...
A lot of the passengers said something like ..."once I realized we were in no immediate danger" which was a calm assessment of the actual situation. Very cool!
Kris...
What amazes me is how quickly people respond ... the boat captains did not even hesitate or consider their own personal safety. This was a very inspirational story!
Steve...
Some say the Captain told them to evacuate, others were not so sure, but they were out in a flash!
I hope the pilot and co pilot get a huge bonus or some kind of promotion. I probably would have peed my pants first is what I would ahve done. :)
Rich...
That's true ... and if I were instructed to "brace for impact" I would not expect to survive at that point! What a gift to both those on board the flight, their families, and all those who remember the story!
Mark...
It is TRULY and inspiration! Thanks, as always.
Hi Richard:
How lucky were all those passengers!
I think I would have been tempted to panic, but I usually have my children with me when I fly, and it's vital to be calm in order to help them remain calm.
By the way, I was impressed that the general consensus was to let women and children off first. I would have thought that that kind of chivalry was dead.
Well Richard, I for one am very excitable and not sure how I would react, as I am always so nervous when I fly anyway. I am so happy that everyone lived to tell the tale. And what a tale to tell! It's a miracle!
It is amazing how it ended. I thought for sure we were attacked just before Obama took office. Would have really made the economy worse!
Great Story to hopefully make all of use realize how lucky we are! I'm sure the people on the plane feel that way!
Heather...
We have all flown at one time or another, so we can relate ... I would have been VERY surprised to find myself alive after impact! And you can always get new pants! lol
Toula...
Well, unlucky first, then lucky! ;) Thanks as always.
R&C...
I like the idea of helping the kids ... what a life lesson for them! Thanks for the comment!
Great information !! Keep up the good posting !
Robert J Russell, IRES
http://www.robertjrussell.com
Susan...
It is a miracle, what an inspiration! I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
Richard...
This is a great story of heroism and survival, and I hope it will affect the economy in a positive way! And I am looking forward to the investigation so we can know for sure what brought the plane down! THX
Good morning Richard,
This is a good lesson to learn. The people in this situation and the outcome is amazing and it goes to show us that keeping a level head on our shoulders really does pay off in the end.
This was a case of everything going right in a bad situation from the pilot taking the plane out of a populated area to the well trained crew members to the person who was sitting at the emergency exit. I would hope that in an emergency situation the best in all of us would come out.
Richard, These events always touch me because my husband spends so much time on planes. What a blessing that everyone worked together to evacuate the plane. Be nice if everyone worked together in all areas of life.
I am trying not to think of the tragedy that may have been and focus on the blessing. This is fine example of what happens when you are flying with a well trained staff.
All we can do is guess what we would do...and hope we would do the right thing!
Richard, it was certainly heroic and we probably would have done exactly the same. They are trained for that and heightened sense of awareness takes over when the endorphins are increased. I have always found my thoughts are clear as a bell in hectic situations
Weird how that happens form a biological and chemical POV
Bo
Richard: I am a fearful flyer and used to know all the details of every major US plane crash. I haven't even had time to read more than the headlines on this one. I'll have to check it out. It's always wonderful with the injuries are minor and everyone is okay.
Richard ~ So true, an amazing story of what team work is all about. So glad to see the media actually pick up on the positive side of story.
Richard,
I heard of the crash minutes after it happened and was at first very worried for the passengers and for what might have caused the crash. Later in the day, I was so happy to learn that everyone got rescued. This is by far the most positive news I heard in a while on TV and read about online! Let's hope that we get more good news from now on.
Richard,
WOW that was something. Thank goodness that it turned out WELL and there was NO loss of life. I happened to be IN NYC yesterday when it occurred. My friend had updates on her Blackberry and she'd tell us the status every 10 minutes. When I was at Grand Central Station there were announcements over the P.A. about something going on on the river but it was hard to understand what was being said. When my friend said that everyone survived the crash, I was so relieved.
Brother Richard - As a guy who has logged more miles than he can count and flown on days that most people wouldn't dare (9/11 anniversary, shortly after 9/11 when the plane went down in NY - I was at an airport when it happened, etc.) and flown in planes that probably shouldn't be in service (Aeroflot planes, Ukrainian Airlines planes, "private" planes where the owner rides with you and smokes and talks on his cell phone in Hungarian the entire flight to Spain, etc.) - I have done a lot of thinking on this subject. Wake me up mid-flight and ask me how many rows to the exit in front and the exit in back. Ask me where my floatation device is (its not always your seat cushion). Ask me how to open a particular plane's door. I will have the answer. I can recite most major planes emergency procedures and even can pick up vibes from most flight attendents that something is amiss. Still, I know when the plane starts falling, I may not hold it all together. Its hard for anyone to do that under the circumstances, so when I do hear about people doing what's right, I always hope that I can be expected to do the same.
Don...
It can be life or death! Thanks, my friend!
Michael...
It is a truly amazing story! Wow.
Barb...
I think we should all learn from this episode. Thanks!
I have read about this and I'm very happy that no one was seriously injured from what I have heard. However if I were faced with the same situation, I have no idea what I would do.
Richard, what is interesting about all these situations is you really never know what you would do until it happens. We would like to think we would all have calm heads.
Richard, everyone from the Captian, the flight crew, passengers and the rescue worker remained clam and I can only hope I would do the same. And I'll hope I never have to find out!
Great advice. Think of all the hours the crew spend practicing the emergency procedures so they react correctly when they need to and in this case it worked very well.
Rich, you pose a good question, the heroism all these people showed is commendable. As for me, in every crisis situation I've ever been in I have been the type to emotionally shut down at the crisis moment and act as cool as a cucumber. It has always been after wards that I let loose and break down.
You may wonder what type of crisis I have been through, well during a 10 year period that I was in Property Management I was attacked by a woman who was off her medication and put another single Mom and her daughter in a dangerous situation, I had to subdue the woman before the police arrived. I also had to enter a residents apartment for an emergency (the wife called from NY to ask me to check on her husband) and I found the husband had passed away in the night.
These incidents are not as bad as what happened to these poor people, but I would like to think I would act as calm and heroic as they all did.
The crew on this flight did a fantastic job of getting the plane down in one piece and getting everyone out. I'm sure some panic would creep in for us all, but hopefully we could set that aside and focus on immediate needs. Come to think of it the passengers deserve a round of applause as well.
People follow the leader...in this case, the pilot and the crew apparently did their jobs extremely well and kept it together. People looked at them, had faith in their abilities and kept it together, too. My hat is off to the incredible pilot and the crew for a job extremely well done!
It's nice to have a hero who isn't in rehab and isn't in jail.
Richard - it's a good question, I have been in a couple of tight situations, in the military, where I just went along and did what had to be done. I have been on an aircraft that filled with smoke and had to make an emergency landing, and there was no panic. I have gotten up to play guitar and sing and forgotten everything. Chesley Sullenberger III is the guy I want on all my flights.
... some people have the ability to stay calm in these situations, but I would think that the majority panic and lose it a little. What's fascinating to me about this story, is that from all the news reports and passenger recaps, it sounds like even after a 'plane crash' everyone was pretty calm and orderly !! ...that's almost unbelievable for me after they were all on a plane that went down ??!?!! Truly amazing, and for me it means an unbelievable amount of praise and recognition for the entire flight crew that put into play what they have been trained to do. Truly incredible story.
God performs miracles and our country and the world needed to witness just one and there it is.........God bless those people who had to go through this trauma but I believe that this event will change their lives forever as well as touching the lives of other people. Thank God for miracles....large or small....
Mel...
Constant training, drills and certifications make flying the safest way to travel ... by far! THX
Bill...
You really don't know until you're there! Thanks, my friend.
Bo...
Survival instinct is an amazing thing, and it's awesome to see it in action!
Chris Ann...
That's actually a hobby of mine too ... it's fascinating to see all of the things that have to go wrong for a tragedy to occur. When I heard a plane crashed in the Hudson, the first thing I thought about was PALM 90 (Air Florida) crashing in the Potomac on that cold winter day years ago!
Kathy ...
A great and inspiring tale of survival! Thanks!
Gerry...
Those images of all of the people standing on the wings in the middle of the Hudson are awesome!
It's hard to imagine ourselves in those shoes, really...I hope that I would act in a way that would benefit the whole rescue operation...what an amazing story...so much to rejoice about and admire. Thanks for the post---and beautiful pics!