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Captain Cool: Darling, I've had an accident
Tom Teodorczuk in New York and Amar Singh in London16 Jan 2009
THE pilot who crash-landed his plane into the Hudson river called his wife and said: "There's been an accident."
Captain Chesley B Sullenberger III, 57, was hailed a hero today after saving the lives of more than 150 passengers.
The pilot of US Airways flight 1549 calmly delivered the news to his wife Lori after pulling off one of the greatest escapes in aviation history.
Speaking from their home in Danville, California, Lori Sullenberger said of her husband, nicknamed Sully: "I was stunned. I hadn't been watching the news. I've heard Sully say to people, 'It's rare for an airline pilot to have an incident in their career.' When he called me, he said: 'There's been an accident.'
"At first I thought it was something minor, but then he told me the circumstances and my body started shaking and I rushed to get our daughters out of school."
Three minutes after the plane took off from New York's LaGuardia airport bound for North Carolina, the Airbus 320's engines lost power after hitting a flock of geese at an altitude of more than 3,000 feet.
Mr Sullenberger reported a "double bird strike" to air traffic controllers but could not return to LaGuardia. He tried to divert to Teterboro airport in New Jersey but was forced to ditch.
Mr Sullenberger warned passengers to brace themselves for a hard landing before steering the plane into the Hudson river in midtown Manhattan on one of the coldest days of the year in New York. The water was freezing, with the air temperature at -5C.
Boats from a ferry service and sightseeing fleet rushed to the scene. As passengers were taken to safety from the wings, Mr Sullenberger walked twice through the flooded plane to check everyone had got out safely.
Asked by the Standard when Mr Sullenberger planned to comment, a New York Police Department Official said: "You got a bird, a plane and Superman. He doesn't have to say anything."
Mr Sullenberger, who has been flying for US Airways since 1980, is a former US Air Force fighter pilot. He has served as an instructor and Air Line Pilots Association safety chairman and accident investigator and has co-written a paper on aviation mistakes.
A total of 78 injuries were reported with passengers taken to hospitals in New York and New Jersey, mostly for hypothermia and minor injuries. One crew member had a broken leg. New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg hailed Mr Sullenberger's actions as "masterful".
Bill Elkin, a businessman from North Carolina who was on the flight, said: "The pilot performed a remarkable job. We're all grateful to him beyond words." Julian Williams, also from North Carolina, said: "I was looking out of the window and I saw one of the engines blow. He [the pilot] started trying to turn around to go back but then three minutes later he said, 'Brace for impact' and then we went down.
"The entire cabin filled with smoke and fumes. The back exit wasn't working so we went to the middle exit to get out." Passenger Bill Zuhoski, 23, said: "I started to get close to my neck being under-water and I just thought I was going to drown right there."
Max Vermij, an air accident investigator, said: "A water landing is typically even more destructive than a ground landing. It is amazing an Airbus jet was able to land in the river without breaking up." The US Airways crew even gave some of their clothes to freezing passengers, it emerged this afternoon.Passenger Barry Leonard was in danger of hypothermia after initially leaping into the water before making it to a raft.
He said: "I was obviously very cold and one of the pilots turned to me and said, 'Please take off your wet shirt and I'll give you my dry one'. And he gave me his shirt. He literally gave me the shirt off his back to keep me warmer.
"I still have it. And I'm never going to give it up. They are heroes."
David Paterson, Governor of New York, said: "We've had a miracle on 34th Street. I believe now we've had a miracle on the Hudson."
More than 3,000 people on Facebook have already paid tribute to Mr Sullenberger.
Reader views (35)
not a bit of wonder the plane crashed look at the size of him in that picture.... he's a giant!!!11!!!!!
- Dan, scunthorpe, 18/01/2009 09:17
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The pilot was brilliant, but so were those involved in the rescue. The fast response from the passenger ferries in the area must surely have saved the lives of many crash survivors who otherwise would have died within minutes in that freezing water. New York, I salute you. The 9/11 atrocity that killed thousands of your citizens broke many hearts, but your city's spirit is stronger than ever.
- Susannah, Sydney, Australia, 17/01/2009 21:18
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HERO yes sir,mr BUSH should give him the medal he gave to BLAIR,for brown nosing him on the irac war, it cost british lives.the PILOT saved lives,did his job, BLAIR failed to do his.and he should be held acountable,
- phil, usa, 17/01/2009 03:57
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Thank the good LORD that this pliot knew his plane skills to direct the plane without any serious problems like cracking in the water during this accident...
This man should get award from FAA for saving himself and others during this ordeal..
- marshall, USA, 17/01/2009 03:35
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Capt Sullenberger, who's skill and professionalism saved the lives of 150 passengers, three flight attendants, his copilot and himself on US Airways Airbus A320 flight 1549 from LaGuardia Airport, New York heading for Charlotte, North Carolina after he was forced to ditch in the Hudson River. These are the kind of professionals that government bureaucracies around the world insist on keeping disarmed in the face of 9/11 and other fatal hijackings. Why?
The defensive use of a handgun is the last sure protection of the cockpit. I would trust pilots like Capt Sullenberger with my life and return to international travel if they were armed.
- Russell, Stirling, Scotland, 17/01/2009 00:20
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I wonder if the first law suite has been served for Trauma againt American Airlines?
- dexter, London, 17/01/2009 00:02
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Airbus or Boeing, THIS pilot could have ditched either one on the Hudson or the Thames. Cheers to all good commercial pilots around the world!
- Dan, Wauwatosa Wisconsin, 16/01/2009 23:37
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What's interesting is the contrast in passenger comments. Some say "everyone panicked" others "everyone was calm" or so they are quoted. Some papers call it a plunge, some a crash, a few a crash landing on water. This is another great example on how
1) many people see or experience the same event differently, and
2) how deliberate sensationalist reporting is used to provoke fear and terror and other negative emotions in the reader.
Early today, network news was having 'experts' on to "try and help us all cope, help us ALL begin to process this tragedy and just what has happened to those people"
Um, what tragedy? No one died, most uninjured, and why do us as viewers need to cope with anything? If watching a simple news report causes an individual to need therapy, that person has serious problems.
- Trunk, US, 16/01/2009 16:21
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Liberal Thinker, my very thought, you did make me laugh... what is happening to all the usual anti-Brown contributors? Maybe Friday, so already off to the shires...
- Daniel, London, 16/01/2009 16:19
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The pilot was very professional, so also the rescue teams who immediatetly ruashed to the scene. I just wish we could all learn from this.
- Abba I Bello, Kaduna - Nigeria, 16/01/2009 15:38
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Dear Sir,
Just a brief comment, This is undoubtedly the best advertisement for the world of aviation. There are many unsung heros in life and he is one.
- Arthur Lincoln, Roeselare, Belgium, 16/01/2009 15:14
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We need to bring back propellor sea planes and airships, for more leisurely flights.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex, 16/01/2009 14:31
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No casualties? What about all those dead geese? Nobody ever cares about them when something like this happens.
- St, London, 16/01/2009 14:20
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Hats off to the piolet, Even though thankfully everyone did survive it has now offically put me off flying for lfe.
- Lara, London UK, 16/01/2009 14:07
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An amazing guy. I hope he switches to Qantas and flies my family and I around.
- Fiona, Melbourne, Australia, 16/01/2009 14:02
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Dear London,
Flying skills the Captain took to it like a duck to water. Well done to the Captain and crew, I hope all involved make a good recovery, and to the rescue teams who ever you are well done to.
Finally,
George W. before he goes on Tuesday should give this Captain a medal as big as a dustbin lid, it could if been far far worse?.
- John.L., Scarborough N.Yks U.K., 16/01/2009 13:53
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Well done that man. I got a feeling of warmth and love from just reading that story. Such a heart-warming feat. His family must be very proud of him.
- Sonia Thompson, Leyton, London, 16/01/2009 13:43
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"Man proposes but God disposes"
- M Amjad, London, 16/01/2009 13:24
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I blame Gordon Brown, just wanted to be the first to say it!
- Liberal Thinker, UK, 16/01/2009 13:15
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If he'd had landed in the Thames, he would have probably got a parking ticket.
- Andy, highgate, 16/01/2009 13:05
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Love the quote by NYPD!
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 16/01/2009 13:04
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i bet boris johnson played his part in saving them probley read it in the standard tomorrow
- Mat, london, 16/01/2009 12:57
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To Joe of London - I don't know what age you are or if you'll remember, but in 1972 a plane did come down on Staines bypass..
- Daniel Rapp, Hampton, Middlesex, 16/01/2009 12:54
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Not a pro what Kate? Pro Thames estuary airport? Frankly, I couldn't give one. Even if one got built, it will be no more used than Stanstead or Gatwick. Heathrow has developed, and will continue to develop, expressley because of its location and proximity to central London, and no amount of high-speed rail links and expressways will change that.
No sarcasm at all.
Re: bird strikes: They will be a much greater problem in the estuary, and far harder to manage.
Re: Landing on water. Locating an airport in an estuary is not an advantage because the water will provide a softer landing should an aircraft need to emergency land or overshoot. It is not softer. Water does not compress. You hit it, it hurts. A pilot will always seek a wheels down tarmac emergency landing wherever possible...ditching on water will always be the last resort.
- Md, London, UK, 16/01/2009 12:52
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I'm surprised the plane didn't disintegrate when it hit the water. The forces would have been equivalent to slamming into a concrete runway.
Obviously, Airbus planes are very robust and a superior design.
- A Mark, Birmingham, 16/01/2009 12:38
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A great bit of flying from the pilot.
Also bear in mind that the plane that did not disintegrate on hitting the water was an Airbus. Do as I do and fly Airbus for that little bit of extra peace of mind.
Yes plenty of birds in the Thames Estuary, this accident shows that it would be crazy to put an airport there.
- Harry H, London UK, 16/01/2009 12:21
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Too right, just imagine that there had'n been any water! Planes don't have propellers and more Reyes!!
- Jay, London UK, 16/01/2009 12:07
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Md you are clearly not a pro and sensing sarcasm
- Kate, London, 16/01/2009 12:06
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could have easly been hounslow mmmm
- Joe, london, 16/01/2009 12:01
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Yes Kate, lets put the airport right where all the birds are...or shall we just kill them all first?
Pilots, as a rule, prefer not to land on water, if they have a choice, as it is generally harder on the aircraft...Captain Sullenberger's masterful achievement was exceptional.
- Md, London, UK, 16/01/2009 11:34
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Wow so close to Manhattan. Can you imagine our wortless government just decided to expand our airport close to our city centre?! Amazing how timely and clearly proof that we need a new airport built away from dense housing areas. Well done on the pilot to steer away from all those appartment blocks.
- Peteo, London, 16/01/2009 11:34
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Well done on the pilot. Luckily it was not an appartment block or where houses are. Otherwise it could have been a disaster.
- Georgie, Islington, London, 16/01/2009 11:20
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this is such a terrific story ...despite crashing markets and doom and gloom everywhere this story more than any other symbolizes the true spirit of America for me...magnificent..God bless the pilote
- Anne Marie, paris france, 16/01/2009 10:58
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Well this is really a great advert for the Thames Estuary airport idea.
Right in the middle of the water.
- Kate, London, 16/01/2009 10:08
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We think it was a true miracle. Luckily it was a small plane.
The people on board were very lucky. We cant imagine what they went through thinking they were going to die.
I hope plains dont make a habbit of sucking geese into propellers from now on!
- Ms Reyes And 8y2, Walthamstow, 16/01/2009 09:16
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