Wed, Jun 10, 2009
Captain Praised As A Hero
The first day of testimony in the
NTSB hearing on US Airways Flight 1549, which ditched in the Hudson
River in January, brought praise for the crew of the aircraft, as
well as harrowing stories from the passengers.
One NTSB board member aplologize for a quote that was widely
reported a month ago. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that
Robert Sumwalt (pictured right) was quoted by The Associated Press
as saying a passenger aboard the plane would contradict Flight
Attendant Doreen Welsh's statement that a panicked passenger had
tried to open the plane's rear door. In fact, passenger Billy
Campbell, who testified Tuesday, said Welsh was very professional
in her response to the emergency. They had talked at a reunion held
last month for the passengers and crew.
NTSB officials praised Captain Chelsey Sullenberger for quick
decision-making and keeping his cool, and they pressed him for
lessons that could help prevent accidents. According to The Chicago
Tribune, investigators showed an animated depiction of the flight,
including audio from the transmissions between Sullenberger and
ATC. The hearing audience laughed at times, as they listened to air
traffic controllers rushing to find a runway for the plane, and
Sullenberger coolly declaring that the aircraft would land in the
river.
“This event turned out differently than a lot of the
situations the board has looked at,” Mr. Sumwalt, the
committee vice chair, said, addressing Captain Sullenberger.
“What made the critical difference in this event? How did
this event turn out so well?”
The captain responded: “I don’t think it was one
thing, it was many things. We had a highly experienced,
well-trained crew. The first officer, Jeffrey Skiles, and I worked
together well as a team and we solved each problem as it presented
itself to us.”
The hearings will continue Wednesday and Thursday. Among the
issues still to be explored are ways to track birds in the vicinity
of airports, and whether new standards are needed to address bird
ingestion into engines.
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