Chesley B. Sullenburger: Miracle On The Hudson River (Video, Photos)

Posted on: January 16th, 2009 by: Meg14 comments

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.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGMHjb1W5k[/youtube]

More photos here.

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Filed under: Across the Nation

14 Responses to “Chesley B. Sullenburger: Miracle On The Hudson River (Video, Photos)”

Sully the Savior, on January 16th, 2009 at 9:41 am Said:

Hope this guy gets the accolade he deserves. Our society forgets too quickly! Sadly, 6 months from now he won’t even be remembered.
ron turner, on January 16th, 2009 at 11:13 am Said:

What a mircle,As to, I do not fly some of my friends and family do, but to have a great man at the controls and the presents of mind to do what he and the co piliot did is quite amazing, I know when the good lord looked down and saw what happen ,he instantly knew is angel had done his work. A BIG TIP OF MY HAT TO MR SULLENBURGER ” a angel in the sky” I know when the lord comes to take all of us home he would not mind at all if “SULLY” would piliot his ship in for him.May GOD love him ,we do here in america
NativeNYker, on January 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pm Said:

It doesn’t get more exciting than this! Only in NY… I am relieved all on board were safe! But on a different note – is it really necessary for all the news outlets to stay on air, for a play by play that essentially amounts to speculation?

xo
Rants, Thoughts & Merde
Female Pilot, on January 16th, 2009 at 5:57 pm Said:

I completelly agree with you Sully the Savior. I hope they condecorate him and honor him for the intelligent decision this man took that made that nobody died.
People just don’t understand how responsable you feel when you see behind you 150 heads!
Chesley B. Sullenburger deserves to be honor!!!!!!!
Heather, on January 16th, 2009 at 7:41 pm Said:

The whole story is amazing. I am so glad everyone survived.
Alli the Pilot, on January 16th, 2009 at 9:05 pm Said:

Anybody can fly a plane, even my 8 years old… it’s really not a big deal!
It’s the situation like this one that really shows what piloting is all about; Sully sure is cut out for the job! Take a look at his resume: seems like he was training his entire life for this day.
We could have had another NY diseaster on our hands today, instead we have 155 reasons to celebrate:) Thank you, Sully, and cheers!
judy anderson, on January 16th, 2009 at 10:48 pm Said:

Shelly the miracle on the Hudson pilot should receive a bonus for good work instead of the ceo’s of the failed wall street firms.
Alan Tavares, on January 19th, 2009 at 9:56 am Said:

As a pilot Mr. Sullenburger gave me hope after this incident. To know he was the last person off that plane shows me that there really are goo….., great people out there. You truly are a hero sir, I would love to meet you some day. EVEN BETTER I WOULD LOVE TO FLY WITH YOU SOMEDAY.
Eric Contich, on January 19th, 2009 at 10:35 am Said:

It wasn’t a miracle, it was skill. Well done.
Bethany Tavares, on January 19th, 2009 at 9:33 pm Said:

I think that he is a great pilot and he handled the situation in a great manner. My husband is a pilot and i hope that he is never in a situation like that and if he is than I hope that he responds in the same manner with great success
Mady, on January 24th, 2009 at 12:23 am Said:

This guy is great! Everyone is talking about it especially since he lives in my town. A friend of mine knows the pilot’s daughter.
Perry de Havilland, on January 24th, 2009 at 10:19 pm Said:

The way I see it, making the right decision to ditch rather that try for Teterboro, does not make him a ‘hero’, it make him a “smart pilot”… putting the Airbus down in a dead stick water landing in one piece without flipping or breaking up and killing everyone, that does not make him a ‘hero’, it makes him an “absolutely superb airman”… walking the length of the sinking aircraft *twice* to make sure ever one was out safely and being the last man to abandon the aircraft… THAT is what makes his man a god damn ‘hero’.

A wonderful man.
David, on February 12th, 2009 at 11:07 pm Said:

An exceptional human being.
maree scotland, on February 19th, 2009 at 5:44 pm Said:

What about the other crew members? Sully a hero…but he did not work alone! This story does restore your faith in God and humankind!!