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On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 accomplished a stunning emergency landing in the Hudson River.
The maneuver took place immediately after the US Airways Airbus A320 aircraft departed New York City’s LaGuardia Airport for Charlotte, North Carolina.
The jet was piloted by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles. The aircraft had been delivered new to US Airways in 1999.
According to simpleflying.com, both pilots had vast flying experience at the time.
Sullenberger, a former military pilot, had logged nearly 20,000 flying hours, including 4,755 hours on the A320.
Skiles, who had recently been reassigned to the aircraft, had had more than 20,000 cumulative flight hours.
In 2009, the flight departed Queens, New York, without incident at 3:26 p.m., according to simpleflying.com.
A flock of Canadian geese confronted the plane shortly after takeoff, some 7.5 kilometers from the airport.
Jeff Skiles and Captain Chelsey Sullenberger were in the cockpit during the disaster.
The enormous flock of birds flew into the pilots’ area of vision, and some geese were absorbed by the aircraft’s engines.
The plane’s two engines were immediately damaged upon collision at a height of around 3,000 feet.
Sullenberger assumed control of the aircraft, which Skiles had piloted before takeoff, with a cool, composed response and rapid thought.
Sullenberger activated the APU, also known as the auxiliary power unit, 19 seconds after impact, when the aircraft had begun a glide fall. According to simpleflying.com, it generates electricity and produces air pressure.
Sullenberger initiated a mayday call 22 seconds after the birds attacked the jet, despite the failure of attempts to restart the main engines.
A recording of Sullenberger’s radio transmission from the cockpit demonstrates that he reported the incident with composure.
He stated, “This is Cactus 1549, hit birds.”
“Both engines have lost thrust,” We are returning to LaGuardia Airport.”
Air Traffic Control rapidly provided possibilities for an emergency landing at LaGuardia, but Sullenberger determined that the aircraft would not be able to make it.
The pilots therefore requested landing at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and were given permission to land on Runway 1.
As the Aircraft A320 sailed 900 feet above the George Washington Bridge, which connects New York and New Jersey, Sullenberger realized that an emergency landing in the Hudson River was the only choice, as highlighted by simpleflying.com.
“We may crash into the Hudson,” the pilot said over the radio.
Sullenberger and Skiles prepared for a water landing while Air Traffic Control continued to provide assistance.
Sullenberger responded to incoming landing choices with “We can’t do it.”
We will be on the Hudson River.
At 3:31 p.m., the aircraft ditched in the Hudson River. According to simpleflying.com, the duration of the flight was just five minutes.
The 155 occupants of the aircraft were evacuated via the wings and emergency slides.
According to simpleflying.com, the aircraft was outfitted for extended over-water operation, which meant there were full life vest provisions and the exit slides could be disassembled and used as rafts.
According to New York Waterway, nearby vessels moved swiftly to rescue individuals from the water.
Twelve other passengers and crew members were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and FDNY (New York City Fire Department).
According to New York Waterway’s website, this was the “most successful marine rescue in aviation history.”
Experts emphasized that many of the passengers could have perished or suffered from hypothermia if the boat workers had not responded so fast.
24 minutes after ditching, all passengers were rescued from the ocean and aircraft by 3:55 p.m. Everyone aboard the aircraft survived the landing.
The technique is renowned as the “miracle on the Hudson” because an unpowered water landing such as this one is “extremely dangerous,” according to simpleflying.com.
“Manufacturers and regulators have established procedures for water landings or ditching, but in practice, these occurrences are uncommon,” the website stated.
Time magazine named Sullenberger second among the “Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009” after Michelle Obama.