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Today in 2009, Captain Sullenberger successfully ditched his aircraft in the Hudson River. US Airways Flight 1549, operated by an Airbus A320, was struck by birds on climbout after taking off from LaGuardia, New York. Following the bird strike, the aircraft lost both engines.
On realizing that both engines had shut down and unable to reach any airport, the crew glided the plane and ditched it in the Hudson River in Manhattan, New York. All 150 passengers and 5 crew survived in what is now known as the Miracle on the Hudson.
The captain was 57-year-old Chesley Sullenberger, who at the time had logged 19,663 flight hours, including 4,765 on the Airbus A320. The co-pilot was 49-year-old Jeffrey Skiles who had logged 15,643 flight hours. This was his first Airbus A320 flight. (What a first flight!)
The crew of Flight 1549, including the Pilots & the Flight Attendants were awarded the 'Master's Medal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators' in recognition of their heroic & unique aviation achievement.
Do you remember this incident? I remember watching it live on @CNN.
Do you remember this incident? I remember watching it live on @CNN.
