The Hudson River Air crash

It was January 17, 2009. After 90 seconds after take-off, the pilot-captain of a U.S. Airways Airbus A320, Chesley B Sullenberger, found that both engines of his plane lost power after the plane had collided with a flock of birds. He could not make the plane land on the nearest airport, but to guide it towards Hudson River. It was a wise thought of landing on this long strip of water although the water down there was freezing cold.
















The plane touched down onto the river at 3:31 p.m. In less than 4 minutes, the first ferry arrived at the spot. Some of the passengers had already evacuated from the plane, stayed on the wings as their platforms for rescue. Smaller rubber rafts helped to transfer passenger to larger boats or ferries. At 3:36 p.m., the first rescue ship from the fire-brigade arrived. It joined in the rescue operation in saving 15 passengers. A rescue helicopter at 3:43 p.m. dropped divers to save two passengers in the water.















The whole rescue operation finished within 40 minutes. All the 155 passengers and crew were saved. It was a miracle that none was seriously wounded. Some passengers had to be taken to hospital because their body temperatures were low.

The captain was praised for his sober mind, skill in landing and responsibility (he returned to the plane to make sure that everybody was out of his plane). He was respected and considered as a “hero” in the air crash.