Posted on 01/15/2009 4:04:15 PM PST by traumer
Some 150 people aboard a US Airways plane en route to Charlotte, N.C., from New York City were rescued today in a lightning-fast effort following the jet's crash into the frigid waters of the Hudson River off the West Side of Manhattan.
In the aftermath of the crash, the US Airways pilot, Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III, was praised for his efforts at landing the plane softly on the river's surface, allowing rescue crews to get to the passengers before the plane sank.
"It would appear that the pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river, and then making sure everybody got out," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference late today.
The mayor said Sullenberger "walked the plane twice to verify if anyone was onboard" before exiting himself.
"You've got to give it to the pilot. He made a hell of a landing," said Jeff Kolodjay, 31, a passenger on the plane from from Norwalk, Conn.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
hero
Sullenberger, 67, has more than 40 years of flying experience and served as an air force fighter pilot and instructor.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6658493&page=1
I’d like to salute this man.
He just had to know he was prior military.
Ack! He=We
Go ahead.
won’t they be making him retire soon?
Even though that’s what he is trained to do, he had to do it in the face of every basic instinct screaming to get himself off the plane.
Didn’t FAA under Bush just change the rules a couple of years ago to allow pilots to fly past a certain age? I think the age was 60. Darned fine decision.
another article says “Heroic pilot identified as 57-year-old veteran from California “
The article says he’s 57.
I thought pilots had to retire at age 60?
Whenever I see those emergency instruction cards (inserted on the pocket in front of your seats), I always wonder if a plane can float on the water surface long enough to provide ample time for the passengers to do whatever the instruction cards (or the demonstration by the cabin attendants) say. I got my answer today.
F-4 pilot, NBC said.
We have it reversed in this nation. Politicians should retire at age 60...not capable experienced pilots.
Bravo!
On Hardball Chris Matthews just said the pilot had very little time to react after the birds attacked the plane knocking out two engines but made a great water landing. I couldn’t believe my ears. America was not attacked on 9/11 but birds attacked this plane. Amazing.
Thank you Sir. God bless you.
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