Heroics behind the Miracle on the Hudson.(THE GOODNESS OF AMERICA)(US Airways Flight 1549 that landed in the Hudson River)

Once again, Americans have proven their mettle in the face of disaster--or in this case used it to prevent disaster--in what New York Governor David A. Paterson has described as the "Miracle on the Hudson." When US Airways Flight 1549 was forced to make a splash landing in the Hudson River on Thursday, January 15, cool heads prevailed and what could have been an immense tragedy turned into 10 minutes of teamwork that has awed the nation.

Flight 1549 took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport without incident, headed for Charlotte, North Carolina. However, according to various media accounts, the plane encountered a large flock of geese a few minutes after takeoff. The plane lost both engines, converting it from a jetliner into a 170,000-pound glider. It was here that the first hero of the day, Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III, came in to play.

Heroic Captain

According to the Associated Press, Sullenberger's first thought was to turn the plane around for an emergency landing back at LaGuardia. However, he quickly determined that the jet was "too low, too slow," and near too many tall buildings to reach the airport. His next thought was Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, but he realized that would mean the risk of a "catastrophic" crash in a populated neighborhood. Unwilling to risk the lives of others on the ground, the pilot determined to put the plane down in the frigid waters of the Hudson River, and just three minutes after takeoff, the plane had safely splashed down.

This quick thinking under extraordinary circumstances is a testament to Sullenberger's natural talent and steadiness of mind. Passengers were amazed at the captain's presence of mind during the ordeal. His brief, to-the-point communication right before the landing, "Brace for impact," was given with complete calmness. They were also amazed by the smoothness of the splash-down, and many didn't even realize they had landed on the water!

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The captain remained calm and in control after the landing. As the occupants were escaping the sinking plane onto the wings and life rafts, Sullenberger retrieved the plane's manifest, to be used to account for all the passengers. He directed the remaining passengers out, then twice toured the flooding cabin to ensure that everyone was safely out. Only then did he exit the plane and step onto a raft.