US Airways Flight 1549 landed on the Hudson river on January 15, 2009. The pilot was Captain Chesley Sullenberger. The primary cause of the crash landing was engine failure, brought about by birds getting stuck in both the plane’s engines.
The Hudson landing was a success and now Captain Sullenberger is an icon of the modern American hero. Listen to the Flight 1549 tapes below to experience, even partially, the harrowing ordeal faced by the calm but inwardly terrified captain and the confused air traffic controllers on land.
An excerpt of the conversation from the Flight 1549 tapes, as reported by FOXNews [link].
“We’ve got an emergency return,” a controller says. “He’s had a bird strike. He’s returning immediately. … He lost both engines, he said.”
Controllers tell him that Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, where the flight originated, is available.
Sullenberger says he won’t make it that far.
“Unable,” he says. “We may end up in the Hudson.”
Controllers suggest nearby Teterboro Airport instead.
At first Sullenberger says yes. Less than 20 seconds later, he realizes that, too, will be impossible.
“We’re unable,” Sullenberger tells controllers. “We’re gonna be in the Hudson.”
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