On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger became a household name after playing the central role in one of the most remarkable emergency landings in aviation history. US Airways Flight 1549, piloted by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after taking off from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. This caused both of the plane’s engines to fail.
Faced with a critical situation, Captain Sullenberger decided that returning to LaGuardia or trying to land at another nearby airport was too risky. He instead chose to ditch the Airbus A320 in the Hudson River. This decision was unprecedented for a commercial airliner in such circumstances.
Remarkably, all 155 passengers and crew members on board were rescued by nearby boats and ferries, with only minor injuries reported. The successful water landing and evacuation with no loss of life was widely celebrated as a “miracle” due to the skill and calmness shown by the pilots and crew during the emergency.
To mark the 15-year anniversary of the incident, Sully reunited with some of the key players in the miraculous outcome — the New York Police Department’s Elite Scuba Team.
During the reunion, the scuba team recalled the disbelief, tension and uncertainty they felt as they approached a commercial airplane sitting in the Hudson River. Once on the scene, the divers kicked into action, playing a critical role in the rescue by preventing in-water passengers from floating away and then entering the half-submerged fuselage to ensure no one had been missed or left behind.
From the incredible skill and calmness of Captain Sullenberger and his flight team to the courage and teamwork employed by the various emergency responders and general public that day, each critical element of this collective effort ensured the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 will be remembered as one of those rarest things — a true miracle.
