15 anniversary of the "Miracle on the Hudson"

15 years anniversary air crash US Airways Miracle Hudson River Sully Sullenberger Airbus 320

✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers

Verified codes to save on your next trip.

5% OFF
Travel insurance

International insurance to travel around the world.

NARENAS
5% OFF
Discount on chips

International e-sim for travel around the world.

NARENAS
5% OFF
Car rental

Rent your car with a discount everywhere.

NARENAS

Today we remember the anniversary 15 of what was considered the "Miracle on the Hudson", when a Airbus A320 commanded by CaptainSully»The aircraft was able to descend into the Hudson River without fatalities after losing power in both engines. Photo author unknown

Surely you remember that day, I'm sure you saw the final report and even saw the excellent film starring Tom Hanks, The fact is that the accident of the flight of the defunct US Airways must be one of the most recognized and media events in the modern history of aviation..

Was a 15 of January of 2009 when the A320 under the command of the Captain, better known as «Sully«, managed to crash an Airbus A320 together with your crew in the cold Hudson River, without any victim to mourn, That's where the "Miracle on the Hudson" was born..

Cactus flight accident 1549 on the hudson

The idea of ​​this publication is to review the different events and data that were generated after this accident, so that we remember one of the most notorious events in the industry, which demonstrates how skilled and reliable the world's safest means of transportation is.:

  • Date: 15 of January of 2009
  • Place: Hudson River, New Jersey, USA
  • Aircraft: Airbus A320-214, license plate N106US
  • Airline: US Airways
  • Crew:
    • Captain: Chesley B. «Sully» Sullenberger III
    • First official: Jeffrey B. Ski lesson
  • Crew: 5
  • passengers: 150

Summary

The 15 of January of 2009, the flight 1549 de US Airways, an Airbus A320-214, crashed into the Hudson River, right next to New York City. The aircraft, that transported 155 people, had lost both engines after colliding with a flock of Canadian geese.

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted the aircraft, made the decision to make a forced landing in the river. The plane gently hit the water and stayed afloat for the next few minutes. 24 minutes, until all passengers and crew were evacuated.

The accident became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson" and was widely celebrated as an example of heroism and professionalism on the part of the crew..

probable cause

The final report of the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the accident was the collision of the aircraft with a flock of Canadian geese. The aircraft's engines shut down due to ingestion of feathers and other animal remains..

The report also noted that the crew took appropriate steps to attempt to restart the engines., but these were not successful.

The final report says:

«The ingestion of large birds in each engine, resulting in a near total loss of thrust in both engines and subsequent sinking in the Hudson River. Contributed to fuselage damage and subsequent unavailability of use of the rear rafts/gliders and Federal Aviation Administration approval of ditching certification without determining whether pilots could achieve ditching parameters without engine thrust, lack of industry flight crew training and guidance on ditching techniques, and the resulting difficulty for the captain to maintain his planned speed on final approach due to task overload resulting from the emergency situation."

Accident timeline

With data from Aviation-safety.net.

The flight 1549 de US Airways, an Airbus A320-214, experienced a near-total loss of thrust in both engines after colliding with a flock of birds. This forced an emergency landing in the Hudson River near New York's LaGuardia Airport..

The plane was headed to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. (CLT) in North Carolina. took off from the runway 04 from LaGuardia to 3:24 p.m.

Takeoff and start of climb were uneventful.. At 3:25:45 p.m., the local controller of the LaGuardia control tower (ATCT) instructed the crew to contact the Radar Approach Control departure controller (TRACON) from the New York Terminal (LGA). The captain contacted the departure controller at 3:25:51 p.m., indicating that the plane was 700 feet and ascending to 5,000 pies. The controller then instructed the flight to climb and hold 15,000 pies, and the captain confirmed the instruction.

At 3:27:10 p.m., the captain said: «Birds». a second later, at an altitude of 2,818 feet above ground level, the crew heard banging and shaking followed by a shaking sound. The plane had collided with several Canadian geese.

Immediately after the encounter with the birds, fan and core speeds (N1 y N2, respectively) of both engines began to decrease.

At 3:27:14 p.m., the first officer said: «uh oh», followed by the captain saying: "we have one… They are both retreating!». Later, The captain indicated that he would turn on the APU and took control of the plane. At 3:27:28 p.m., The captain instructed the first officer to "grab the quick reference manual (QRH) for loss of thrust in both engines », and reported the emergency situation to the LGA departure controller, saying: «mayday mayday mayday… This is… Cactus fifteen thirty nine collided with birds, we have lost thrust in both engines, "We're heading back toward LaGuardia."

The LGA departure controller confirmed the captain's statement and then instructed him to turn left heading 220°..

The first officer began to perform the Part 1 from the QRH ENG DUAL FAILURE checklist (Dual Engine Failure Checklist), saying: "if there is fuel left, engine mode selector, ignition", and the captain responded: "ignition". The first officer then said: «push levers confirm idle», and the captain responded: "slow motion". Some 4 seconds later, the first officer said: «optimal airspeed for re-ignition. three hundred knots. "We don't have it", and the captain responded: "we don't have it".

At 3:28:05 p.m., the LGA departure controller asked the captain if he wanted to try to land on the runway 13 from LGA if available, and the captain responded: "we can't. We may end up in the Hudson [río]».

The LGA departure controller cleared the flight to perform a left traffic pattern for the runway. 31, but the captain responded: "we can't". The controller then indicated that the runway 4 of LGA was available, and the captain responded: "I'm not sure we can come up with any clues.". What's on our right? Something in New Jersey, maybe Teterboro?». The controller responded: "Yeah, To your right is the Teterboro Airport (TEB)».

Subsequently, the departure controller asked the captain if he wanted to try to go to TEB, and the captain responded: "Yeah". At 3:29:11 p.m., the captain announced over the public address system (PA): "I am the captain, prepare for the impact". In the meantime, the pilots were working through the checklist to restart the engines.

At 3:29:21 p.m., the LGA departure controller instructed the captain to turn 280° right toward the runway 1 from TEB. But the captain responded: "we can't do it".

Later, the approach controller asked the captain which TEB runway (Teterboro) would like it and the captain responded: "we'll be on the Hudson". When it became clear that the engines would not start, the captain asked the first officer to select the flaps.

At 15:30:43 The plane landed on the surface of the Hudson River. Seconds after ditching, Crew members and passengers began evacuating the plane. Subsequently, All occupants were evacuated from the plane and rescued by area rescuers..

Bailing out

The rescue of the passengers and crew was coordinated by the emergency services of the city of New York. The first rescuers to arrive at the scene of the accident were the city firefighters.

Firefighters used boats to rescue passengers and crew plus helicopters. All occupants of the plane were safely evacuated..

Conclusions

The flight accident 1549 did not cause the death of any passenger or crew member. Nevertheless, The accident caused significant damage to the plane.

The aircraft was declared a total loss and was removed from service., now at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum in Charlotte, NC.

The flight accident 1549 It was a remarkable event that demonstrated the ability of the pilots to make quick and decisive decisions in emergency situations.

Both Captain Sullenberger and his crew were praised for their heroism and professionalism. The accident also served as a reminder of the importance of aviation safety., highlighting in the final report the following:

«The decision making of the flight crew members and the management of their crew resources during the accident sequence contributed to the survival of the accident.; the incidental use of an airplane that was equipped for an extended flight over water, including the availability of front slides/rafts, although it was not required to be equipped with it; the performance of cabin crew members while expediting the evacuation of the aircraft; and the proximity of emergency personnel to the accident site and their immediate and appropriate response to the accident.".

✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers

Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.

Leave a comment on this post!