A MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON RIVER!!!!



This is one BIG miracle - an aircraft loses both its engines to bird hits - the pilot steers the aircraft to the Hudson river and ditches the aircraft. From what I can make out from the video, it appears to be a perfect ditching manoeuvre. The aircraft appears to be in the perfect attitude for ditching. From the media reports it seems that everything worked like clockwork. The entire flight crew - the pilots, the flight attendants have done a marvellous job in ensuring that everyone got off the plane alive. Media report suggests that the Captain went around the aircraft checking for any one still left on board, before getting out himself. This is just the kind of stuff Captain's are, and should be, made of. Congratulations to the entire team of this flight for getting everyone off the aircraft alive. Thank God for everything.

However there are some points for us lesser mortals who travel by air. Accidents do happen, and can happen. Are you prepared when you sit in the aircraft......do you pay attention to what the cabin crew calls out before the flight. Do you follow their instructions? Does it irritate you when they ask you to keep your chair upright during take-off and landing, keep the passage clear during critical phases of flight? Do you understand what it means to get to the crash landing position? etc. etc. Please pay attention to what the cabin crew say - it is a regulatory requirement - but it is your life!!! after all. Please read the role of the cabin crew here for an insight into their role in ensuring the safety of the passengers. Cabin crew also provide customer service, but their primary role is safety of passengers.

Comments

OG said…
yes JPJ,

that truly was a miracle.....
not a single life lost...
kudos to the pilot.....
Usha Pisharody said…
Watched the aftermath on TV. Thanks be to the Lord for having been around to make that miracle! Seemingly impossible but a feat achieved, that crash landing and that too without capsizing!

Thanks also for the pertinent reminder to follow safety rules. Most of us are truly lax in doing that!
Smitha said…
It was indeed a miracle, thanks to the capability of the pilot too! Have to say, this just gives you the confidence that things can work out, even when everything seems to be going wrong! As you say, as passengers, we have a duty to be as prepared as possible!
Smita said…
It surely was a miracle.....
Jira said…
You know, I fly on a monthly basis. But I guess its' time I picked up that safety manual and brsuhed up the emergency procedures!
Hello JPJ :)

It is indeed an amazing miracle. God works wonders even in the most hopeless situations.

The segacity, the alertness and the quick thinking by the pilot is to be highly commended and appreciated. He had the presence of mind what to do in the criticall situation. Amazing!

He avoided many populated areas and high rise building and landed on the river perfectly. Besides, he also made the passengers stand on both sides of the wings to balance the plane and prevent quick sinking. The emergency services should also be applauded for their quick response.

You did the right thing to bring the attention of the flyers to pay attention to what is being called out by the cabin crew. Very often we take these things very lightly as a matter of unimportant routine.

Many thanks for the timely advice.

Have a wonderful day :)
How do we know said…
i so agree.. this was a miracle if there was one. Hats off to the pilot.. and to Uncle Luck!
Ha ha I knew you will have an opinion on this!

I hear the next day there was a bird hit in a Kolkata-Guwahati flight and again the pilot showed presence of mind and switched off the engine just in time.

You are right most of us think the safety instructions that the cabin crew demonstrate are just for entertainment value.
Balvinder Balli said…
And that is the material a captain of a ship should be made of, be it in the air , water or on the ground. And ship may be a country, a corporate or any other organisation. When safety of so many lives is at stake the right decision has to be taken at the spur of the moment. And this can be done by the one who has good knowledge of his job, tremendous amount of confidence and cool mind.

And you are right that the given instructions have to be followed correctly by the public.

Generally in a disater situation lives are lost due to panic.
J P Joshi said…
Thank you all for visiting, and for your comments. Will respond to each one shortly... in the process of getting my home internet connection setup... may take a week or so.
Balvinder Balli said…
On the occasion of the Republic Day of our country, i take this opportunity to present this award to my blogger friends who have made a difference by writing their frank opinions in their blogs as well, as in the comment columns of other blogs. These bloggers have not written any sensational or luscious stories to attract traffic to their blogs, but they have put down in prose as well, as verse, whatever they have felt strongly about, may it be about their personal lives or about a burning issue of the society. The sole purpose of their writing has been to make a difference. I wish that their ideas may fructify and bring a change in the society for better. I salute them all. JP please pick up your award from my blog.
Piper .. said…
truly a miracle. And I for one, never pay attention to the safely announcements on flights. One tends to think that this can never happen to me. But yes, this sure is a lesson learnt.
Balvinder Balli said…
(i had posted this invitation yesterday as well. Posting it again just to doubly ensure. I know you are setting up your net connection).

On the eve of the Republic Day of our country, i take this opportunity to present this award to my blogger friends who have made a difference by writing their frank opinions in their blogs as well, as in the comment columns of other blogs. These bloggers have not written any sensational or luscious stories to attract traffic to their blogs, but they have put down in prose as well, as verse, whatever they have felt strongly about, may it be about their personal lives or about a burning issue of the society. The sole purpose of their writing has been to make a difference. I wish that their ideas may fructify and bring a change in the society for better. I salute them all. JP you are invited to visit my blog to receive your award.
Usha Pisharody said…
Taggedyou. I know you are still settling in, so you could pick up the tag and do it when time and inclination permit!
J P Joshi said…
Thank you all for your patience. Hopefully BSNL will have my internet connection up and running shortly. So, till then please bear with me. Thank you once again.