'Miracle' pilot tells why he ditched in river - [UPDATE: he won’t appear on “Today” show Monday]

sfgate.com ^ | Sunday, January 18, 2009 | Larry Neumeister,David B. Caruso, Associated Press

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

The pilot of a crippled US Airways jetliner made a split-second decision to put down in the Hudson River because trying to return to the airport after birds knocked out both engines could have led to a catastrophic crash in a populated neighborhood, he told investigators Saturday.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I will bite the bullet and watch Captain Sullenberger being interviewed by Matt Lauer.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

I might have to do this myself.

[fish hawk]

Duuuhhh. Hit the river or buildings. I never flew a plane in my life but have enough sense to pick the river.

[This_far]

I’m sure he will be on other venues, should you not want to suffer Matty (I won’t).

[I want to know why Robin what’s her name has high powered binoculars in her apartment? (she ‘reported’ in and made a point of it: (para)”... very good one’s too!...”).]

[Paladin2]

"...have enough sense to pick the river. "

It's definitely cheaper AND softer.

[AIM-54]

I wish the pilot had to integrity to not become part of the media circus.

[donna]

I’m not sure, but wouldn’t there be the force from the bouyancy of the water on a big airplane to consider? The plane could break up and sink like a stone in freezing water.

I heard someone say that swimming in freezing water will make you lose body heat faster than just staying still in the water waiting for rescue.

[donna]

A true believer in the overall safety of flying might do it to reassure the public.

[fish hawk]

No matter how you calculate it, taking your chances on a soft landing on water beats hitting buildings and malls etc. any day. With one there is a chance, with the other not only all on board will die but many in the houses and malls will also. I don't see how this would take much thinking. These people were lucky that the Hudson was so conveniently close.

[centurion316]

Runways are an airplane’s and a pilot’s friend. That’s where you want to land, not in a river. Ditching an airplane is very difficult, one mistake and the airplane goes cartwheeling down the surface while tearing itself apart. The only way the river became a viable option, was when he reached the conclusion that he didn’t have the altitude and airspeed to make a runway. Tough call.

He had a very difficult decision to make and had to make it quickly. Once he made the decision, he had to execute flawlessly. This sort of stuff is for professionals, don’t try it at home.

[sirchtruth]

I wish the pilot had to integrity to not become part of the media circus.

Something Good, heroic, and worthy of the news for once, and YOU want the pilot who saved his passengers by doing an outstanding job to basically stay out of the limelight? "Integrity?"

If anybody needs to be at the forefront of the "circus" it's this pilot showing why and how he saved lives with the utmost "integrity" in the midst of the debased media.

[Moonman62]

Runways are an airplane’s and a pilot’s friend. That’s where you want to land, not in a river. Ditching an airplane is very difficult, one mistake and the airplane goes cartwheeling down the surface while tearing itself apart. The only way the river became a viable option, was when he reached the conclusion that he didn’t have the altitude and airspeed to make a runway. Tough call.

Unless he was 100% certain he could make an airport, he made the right decision. The entire flight lasted fives minutes, and I'd say he had only about 30 seconds to make a decision. Looking at the flight path, he probably could have made either Teterboro or LGA with about a mile to spare. But there was no instrument to tell him that.

Ultimately, everybody walked off the plane alive, therefore, he made the right decision.

[torchthemummy]

Duuuhhh. Hit the river or buildings. I never flew a plane in my life but have enough sense to pick the river.

Well aren't you the cat's meow? His point was at first he thought he could make it to the other airport but when he had his first tinge of doubt he made a quick decision to not chance it and made the adjustment just in time. That one decision involved alot of technical aspects to consider and perform. Your comment belittles the extraordinairy feat that this gentleman performed.

[donna]

I was just speculating that the choices were more equal than one might think. Water is not necessarily soft.

[GAB-1955]

It's hard to land a plane just right in water ditching. Captain Sullenberger displayed extraordinary airmanship and skill, and needed a few angels per wing holding it up and steady.

[fish hawk]

I'm not taking anything away from the pilot. Just stating that he made the most logical choice. And you are right about one thing, I am the Cat's meow. Put yourself in his position and see if your choice would be to set down in the “neighborhood”. The man did good for sure and deserves to be honored but Sainthood is a little much.

[A CA Guy]

Can you imagine if he attempted to do this Obama style and instead voted NOT PRESENT rather than act?

[yazoo]

“Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III said that in the few minutes he had to decide where to set down the powerless plane Thursday afternoon, he felt it was “too low, too slow” and near too many buildings to go anywhere else,”

I think the natural reaction of most people would be to try and get it back to the runway. This pilot understood that a decision like that might not only kill everyone on the plane but a lot of people on the ground. The water landing was the decision of a pilot with great skills, incredible courage, and in MHO great moral character.

[taildragger]

Coming up short of Teterboro or LGA would have been a mess, landing in the water was probably softer than not making the runway.

The movie shows he landing tail first, not engines 1st.

Man would I like a couple of hours of dual instruction from this guy...

[cydcharisse]

Just once I’d like to see a person in Captain Sully’s position (politely) just say no to these interviews.

He seems to be such a cool dude I had hopes he’d be the guy.