AviationGeeks.com - US Airways Flight 1549: Landing in the Hudson River

It was fortunate that the experienced pilot, Chesley Sullenberger was flying on January 15 2009 the Airbus 320, flight 1549, for US Airways.  The airplane was scheduled to fly from La Guardia airport in New York to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.

The reason for the survival of all 155 passengers was the response of the flight crew, the experience and quick thinking of the pilot and the cabin crew during the crash. Other reasons where also that the airplane was equipped with a forward slide which is usually only onboard of extended overwater flights (ETOPS).

Chesley Sullenburger is a former air force pilot and received the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship award in 1973. After having over 27.000 hours flying experience he took the right decision on board the aircraft during this situation. Sullenburger in the past has been involved in several accident investigations that probably gave him a clear head to think what would be the best strategy in a situation like he was in.

A few minutes after takeoff the Airbus lost almost total thrust in both engines after flying through a bunch of Canada Geese according to the FAA. The plane went down in the Hudson River after the engines basically stopped and the pilot had to warn the passage that it would get bumpy.

After the emergency water landing the crew managed to inflate boats so the passengers could get off board. Some passengers had sided into the cold water to get out of the sinking plane. Very quickly ships came to help the passengers, helicopters flew over and threw down life vest’s. The passengers where taken care of by medical professionals to make sure they were in good health.

Only four of those that had ended up in the water had to go to the hospital due to hypothermia and some had to be treated for broken bones.  By the time all passengers had been brought into safety actions had to be taken to get the plane out of the river. In the evening they guided the plane 3 km down river and started getting it out of the river that was close to freezing.