Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Ethics Blogs -> Dispatches from the Culture Wars

Ethics

: Dispatches from the Culture Wars

Heroes on the Hudson

By Ed Brayton

Some are calling it a miracle. But it was superb training, excellent aircraft design, and razor sharp reflexes by everyone involved, from onboard crew to local ferryboats that swung into operation within seconds, that saved all aboard and who knows how many below:

Capt Sullenberger, 57, who ditched US Airlines Flight 1549 safely into the Hudson River in New York, has over 40 years of flying experience and heads his own safety consulting business. The former US Air Force fighter pilot from California has served as an instructor and as an Airline Pilots Association (Alpa) safety chairman and accident investigator.

In addition to serving as an safety officer for the pilot's union, Captain Sullenberger is a reportedly certified glider pilot. A skill that no doubt crtitical as he guided his 120,000 pound airliner-turned glider into a 180 degree turn and picture perfect emergency landing in the frigid Hudson River. Had that plane barrelled into any part of the densely populated city on both sides of the river separating New York City and New Jersey, not only would most everyone on board have likely perished, the carnage below would have been catastrophic.

Read the comments on this post...

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on January 16, 2009 (boomark / email).