There I was happily watching TV when I went to check my e-mail. Then I saw that a U.S. Airways plane had crashed in the Hudson River. I immediately checked the news.
Apparently, the plane had hit a flock of birds, either geese or gulls and the pilot was trying to return to LaGuardia Airport in NYC. He couldn't, so chose to go down in the Hudson. He did a wonderful job. He managed to avoid the building on the West Side of Manhattan, the George Washington Bridge and the West Side Highway.
It appears that everyone was evacuated safely, although they are suffering from exposure. The temperature in the Hudson today is between 35 and 40 degrees. A boat from the Circle Line Tours and a Fire Department Boat are acting like barges to prevent the plane from being pulled by the current further south down the river.
A plane crash is always a tragedy, but my thoughts and the thoughts of many witnesses went back to 9/11. Some of the witnesses mentioned seeing the plane flying very low and were afraid it would go into one of the many buildings. Low flying planes will always make us think of that day.
Congratulations to the pilot who steered the plane away from the city, into the river. Fortunately for all on board there was no fire or break-up of the plane. And congratulations also to the members of the NYPD, FDNY, and NY Waterways Ferries for their fast response and rescue.
2 comments:
I've been sitting here watching it all afternoon. What a wonderfully seasoned & caring pilot! The whole ordeal is simply a miracle...
Yes folks, that's why you wear seatbelts on the plane.
My husband and I both retired from US Airways, so finding out that the skills of the pilot enabled everyone to survive made us so happy.
Amen!
~Lisa
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