It was less a crash and seems more like a remarkably controlled river landing. Thank god for the news that everyone, at this point, is reported to have survived. First reports are the it hit birds, geese or seagulls. Other reports indicated an explosion and fire. The pilot is a hero for a miracle landing. 164 people on board with a crew of 5. This certainly makes the “what to do if we have a water landing” instruction a bit more interesting.
UPDATE: CNN is reporting from passengers that everyone remained calmed and women and children were let off the plane first. While I think that is a gallant rule, perhaps now we it should be children and ‘parents’ first, whether or not your kids are with you. Kids need their dads, too and as we know, women are not children. Not the biggest issue as we discuss this miracle rescue, but something to contemplate.
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Tammy:
Thanks for sticking up for the dads. It’s a very contrary but realistic position. I salute you.
As to the crash? I work for said company, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am that our people handled it so well. Yes, some luck was involved, but I can’t tell you how proud I am of our crew. They deserve all the credit.
This whole thing affected me more than I thought it ever would. I guess I care. I always wondered how I’d react if one of our airplanes went down. Now I know. But the outcome was the best I could have possibly hoped for. Yet it still is an extremely emotional experience. I honestly don’t know if I could have accepted an outcome that wasn’t so good. I didn’t know that until now.
So thanks, crew! You saved peoples lives, and I’m forever grateful to you for that!
Hank
What’s sad is this wonderful story of survival, heroism and the piloting skills of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger will soon be tainted by the rush of ambulance chasing lawyers who are probably rushing to the printers for extra business cards as I type. Mark my words.
This morning Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s hypochondria enabler appeared, to get out the word that PTSD will begin to set in soon. See, just because you were elated yesterday at having survived this crash without so much as a bruise, today’s a whole new ball game. So be on the lookout for signs of depression and anger. By ten O’clock this morning, predictable types and class members will have contacted slip-and-fall lawyers. I’m betting a few dozen who weren’t even on the plane will give it a try.
I hate to burst your bubble but “women and children first” sounds like something made up by the media to add more heroism to an already heroic event. Aircraft are required to be evacuated in the fastest and most efficient way possible.
If a woman and child were occupying a window and middle seat, it would be foolish for the single man at the aisle seat to step out to let them out first. Think about what happens when your flight arrives at the gate. If the crew said women and children out first on a normal flight, the cabin would simply be a chaotic mess of shuffling people. Now imagine the same situation with a limited time frame because the cabin is filling with water.