How the Miracle on the Hudson Unfolded

Inside Edition

23 Jan 202107:55

Summary

TLDRUS Airways pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger is celebrated as an American hero for his miraculous Hudson River landing, saving all 155 passengers and crew. The incident sparked widespread admiration, with tributes pouring in on social media and President Bush commending his heroism. Sullenberger's actions, ensuring everyone's safety by being the last to leave the plane, and the rapid, compassionate rescue efforts in freezing conditions, highlight the story of survival and heroism.

Takeaways

🌟 Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger is celebrated as the hero for landing a US Airways jet safely on the Hudson River, saving all passengers and crew.
📰 Front page headlines and social media tributes poured in overnight, recognizing Sully's exceptional piloting skills.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sully's wife Lori expressed pride and relief, highlighting the rarity of such incidents in a pilot's career.
🛬 Sully was the last to leave the plane, ensuring everyone's safety by checking the aisles in waist-deep water.
🗽 New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and President Bush praised Sully's heroism and calm under pressure.
🚁 Sully's military background as an Air Force Academy cadet and experience flying F-4 Phantom jets contributed to his ability to handle the crisis.
🧭 The flight simulator recreation showed Sully's skill in avoiding Manhattan skyscrapers and landing at 140 mph in the Hudson.
🥶 Several passengers suffered from hypothermia, highlighting the compassionate response of the crew and other passengers.
👶 A nine-month-old baby and his four-year-old sister were among the passengers, showing the diversity of those on board.
🤝 Survivors and their families expressed deep gratitude to the pilot and each other, sharing emotional reunions upon arrival in Charlotte.
📸 The first images of the plane in the water were captured by a ferry passenger and quickly spread on social media, showing the power of citizen journalism.

Q & A

Who is Chesley Sullenberger, also known as Sully?
-Chesley Sullenberger, known as Sully, is the pilot who successfully landed a US Airways jet in the Hudson River, saving all passengers and crew on board.
What was the significance of Sully's landing in the Hudson River?
-Sully's landing in the Hudson River was significant because he managed to land the plane safely without any casualties, despite both engines failing due to a bird strike, and was hailed as a heroic act.
How did the public react to Sully's actions?
-The public reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with front-page headlines, tribute pages on Facebook, and messages of admiration pouring in for Sully's heroism.
What did President Bush say about Sully's actions?
-President Bush hailed Sully's heroism and expressed gratitude that everyone was safely off the airplane.
What was Sully's wife's reaction to the incident?
-Sully's wife, Lori, was very proud of her husband and expressed relief that everyone was safe, with her voice cracking as she spoke of the drama.
What did Sully do after landing the plane in the Hudson River?
-After landing the plane, Sully was the last man off, ensuring all passengers were off the plane by walking the aisles in waist-deep water.
How did New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg describe Sully's actions?
-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke in awe of Sully's heroism, describing him as the right man with the right stuff at the right moment.
What was Sully's background before this incident?
-Sully was a former Air Force Academy cadet who flew F-4 Phantom jets for seven years, indicating his extensive experience and skill as a pilot.
What was the condition of the passengers after the landing?
-Several passengers suffered from hypothermia due to the freezing temperatures, but all were eventually rescued thanks to the quick response of nearby boats and emergency services.
How did the pilot's actions impact the survivors?
-The pilot's actions not only saved the lives of all passengers but also showed compassion, as he gave his shirt to a passenger suffering from hypothermia.
What was the initial reaction of the passengers when the plane hit the water?
-The initial reaction of the passengers was shock and fear, with some thinking they were going to die, as they braced for impact and the water started flooding the plane.
How did the rescue operation unfold after the plane landed in the Hudson River?
-The rescue operation was swift and efficient, with commuter ferries and other boats quickly reaching the sinking jet, throwing life preservers, and helping passengers to safety.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 'Miracle on the Hudson': Sully's Heroism

Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, the pilot of the US Airways jet, is celebrated as a national hero for his exceptional landing in the Hudson River, saving all passengers and crew. The incident sparked widespread admiration, with tributes pouring in on social media and President Bush acknowledging his heroism. Sully's wife, Lori, a fitness expert, expressed pride and relief. The pilot's past as an Air Force Academy cadet and experience flying F-4 Phantom jets were highlighted, showcasing his qualifications. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others praised Sully for his skillful landing and ensuring everyone's safety. The narrative includes emotional accounts from survivors, such as Barry Leonard who received the pilot's shirt, and the collective relief and prayer among passengers. The dramatic impact and the quick response of rescuers are also detailed, illustrating the compassion and courage displayed during the event.

05:01

🚤 Swift Rescue Operations on the Hudson

The immediate aftermath of the 'Miracle on the Hudson' is described, focusing on the rapid and effective rescue operation. The first images of the plane in the water were captured by a ferry passenger, highlighting the urgency of the situation due to the risk of hypothermia. Ferry Captain Vincent Lucante and the youngest and first female captain, Brittany Catanzaro, detail their experiences and the importance of their training in such critical scenarios. The narrative includes the swift response of various boats, turning a potential disaster into a display of heroism. The first tweets and images from the scene, the reactions of onlookers, and the coordination between different rescue teams are also mentioned, emphasizing the community effort in saving all 155 passengers and crew.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hudson River

The Hudson River is a 315-mile river that flows from the Adirondack Mountains to New York Harbor. In the context of the video, it is where the US Airways Flight 1549, piloted by Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, made an emergency water landing after both engines were disabled by a bird strike. This event, known as the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' is the central theme of the video.

💡Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger

Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger is the pilot who safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River. The video portrays him as the hero of the incident, highlighting his calm demeanor and exceptional piloting skills, which were critical in saving the lives of all passengers and crew on board.

💡Emergency Landing

An emergency landing refers to the act of landing an aircraft in situations where normal landing procedures are not feasible. In the video, Sullenberger performed an emergency landing on the Hudson River, avoiding buildings and ensuring the safety of all on board, which is a testament to his skill and presence of mind.

💡Heroism

Heroism is the quality of being heroic, displaying courage and noble qualities. The video emphasizes the heroism of Sully and other individuals involved in the rescue, as they acted selflessly to ensure the survival of all passengers, turning a potential tragedy into a miraculous survival story.

💡Survival

Survival in this context refers to the act of staying alive or continuing to exist, especially in a situation of crisis. The video is filled with stories of survival, as all 155 passengers and crew survived the crash landing and the subsequent rescue efforts in freezing conditions.

💡Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. The video mentions several passengers suffering from hypothermia due to the freezing temperatures of the Hudson River, highlighting the urgency of the rescue efforts.

💡Rescue Efforts

Rescue efforts refer to the organized attempts to save people in distress. The video describes the rapid and coordinated rescue efforts involving multiple boats and emergency services, which were crucial in saving the lives of the passengers and crew of Flight 1549.

💡Flight Simulator

A flight simulator is a device or system that mimics the operation of an aircraft, often used for training pilots. The video recreates the incident using a flight simulator to demonstrate how Sully avoided Manhattan skyscrapers and landed the plane safely in the Hudson River.

💡Courage

Courage is the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without fear. The video illustrates courage both in the cockpit, where Sully landed the plane, and in the actions of the passengers and rescuers who faced the dangerous situation with bravery.

💡Compassion

Compassion is the feeling of wanting to help someone who is suffering or in need. The video mentions acts of compassion, such as the pilot or co-pilot giving a passenger his shirt to help prevent hypothermia, showing the human side of the survival story.

💡Social Media

Social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. The video mentions the rapid spread of news and admiration for Sully on platforms like Facebook, indicating the role of social media in modern communication and storytelling.

Highlights

US Airways pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger lands plane in Hudson River, hailed as hero.

Thousands of messages of admiration pour in on Facebook tribute pages.

President Bush acknowledges Sully's heroism in ensuring everyone's safe evacuation.

Sully's wife, Lori, expresses pride and recounts the family's reaction to the incident.

Sully's heroism extends beyond the landing, as he ensures all passengers are off before leaving the plane.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg praises Sully's skill and heroism in averting disaster.

Sully's background as an Air Force Academy cadet and F-4 Phantom jet pilot highlighted.

Survivor Barry Leonard shares how the pilot gave him his shirt to combat hypothermia.

Australian singer Emma Sofia describes her shock and relief after the plane went down.

23-year-old Bill Zuchoski recounts the impact and his fears during the water landing.

Passenger Ray Mandrell's emotional celebration upon realizing everyone made it out safely.

Music publicist Renee Williams describes holding hands in prayer with other passengers.

Survivors receive emotional welcomes from families upon arrival in Charlotte.

Inside Edition staff witness the plane's descent and controlled landing from a nearby office.

Good Morning America host Robin Roberts provides an eyewitness account from her apartment.

Rapid response of ferry and boat crews turns potential disaster into a heroic rescue effort.

Ferry Captain Vincent Lucante and the urgency of the rescue operation due to hypothermia risk.

Youngest and first female captain, Brittany Catanzaro, on the weather conditions and rescue.

First image of the crash posted on Twitter by ferry passenger Yanus Crooms.

Inside Edition crews arrive first at the scene, capturing the rescue and aftermath.

Sully's final check to ensure no one is left behind before leaving the plane himself.