Hero Pilot Calm And Collected, Tapes Show

"We're Gonna Be In The Hudson," Flight 1549 Captain Says On Air Traffic Control Audio

(CBS/AP)  Just before he ditched into New York's Hudson River last month, the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 calmly radioed to air traffic controllers, "We're gonna be in the Hudson."

The audio recordings, released Thursday by the Federal Aviation Administration, reflect the initial tension between tower controllers and the cockpit and then confusion about whether the passenger jet went into the river.

According to the tapes, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who sounded calm and matter-of-fact during the episode, also considered Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, just across the river from New York, but told controllers "we can't do it."

Sullenberger's voice never wavered, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. But his badly crippled plane and the 155 people on board were running out of good options.

"It was the worst sickening pit-of-your-stomach, falling-through-the-floor feeling I've ever felt in my life," Sullenberger told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric in an exclusive interview. "I knew immediately it was very bad."

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See Katie Couric's interview with the captain and crew of U.S. Airways Flight 1549. Sunday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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"Emergency inbound," one tower controller says as he tries to arrange for the stricken plane to land at Teterboro.

"Can I get him in for Runway One?" the controller at New York TRACON, the Terminal Radar Approach Control Center in Westbury, N.Y, asks the tower at Teterboro.

"Runway One, that's good," says the tower controller at Teterboro.

"Cactus 1529 turn right two-eight-zero" for Teterboro, the TRACON controller orders the plane's pilot. Cactus is the call sign used by controllers for US Airways; the FAA says the controller, in the intense situation, got the flight number wrong.

"We can't do it," replies the plane's pilot.

"Which runway would you like at Teterboro?" asks the tower at LaGuardia.

"We're going to be in the Hudson," the pilot replies.

"I'm sorry, say again Cactus" an air traffic controller responded after hearing the pilot's message that he was ditching the Airbus A320.

There was no response from the aircraft.

After contact with the plane is lost, the tension in the tower at LaGuardia is clearly reflected in the voice of a controller. He sighs and then whispers to himself, "All right" as he returns to his normal duties.

"He lost all thrust" and "they're gone, all frequencies," the controller tells another plane that is preparing to take off.

Sullenberger has told FAA investigators he glided the plane into the river rather than risking a catastrophic crash in a densely populated area. All 155 aboard survived.

The trouble began moments after Flight 1549 took off on Jan. 15.

"Hit birds, we lost thrust in both engines, we're turning back to LaGuardia," the aircraft reported.

Controllers handling the departure told the LaGuardia tower: "Tower, stop your departures, we got an emergency returning." After identifying the flight, they said, "He lost all engines, he lost the thrust in the engines, he is returning immediately."

But less than 20 seconds later, Flight 1549 reported: "We're unable. We may end up in the Hudson." That led to the unsuccessful scramble to divert the plane to Teterboro.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday they've confirmed there were birds in both the airliner's engines. Remains from both engines have also been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to have the particular bird species identified.

The safety board also said that an engine surge experienced by aircraft during a flight two days before the accident was due to faulty temperature sensor. The sensor was replaced, and the engine was examined and found to be undamaged before being returned to service.

The flight data recorder revealed no anomalies or malfunctions in either engine until Sullenberger reported striking birds, the board said.

Engine maintenance records also show the engines had been serviced in compliance with the FAA's most recent safety directive, the board said.

Last week, the aircraft was moved from the barge where it had been docked in Jersey City, N.J., to a secure salvage yard in Kearny, N.J, where it will remain throughout the estimated 12 to 18 months the NTSB investigation could take.

[AmbulanceChaser]

RE: "Oh and for those wondering, the "Cactus" callsign is a holdover from America West Airlines, which became US Air. "

US Airways acquired America West. US Airways started as Robinson Airlines, then it became Mohawk Airlines, then Allegheny Airlines, then US Air, which then became US Airways.

[subhuman614]

Capt. Sullenberger deserves The Presidential Medal of Freedom plain and simple.

Bravo zulu Captain.

[celnich]

He truly did "his job as taught" to stay calm under pressure, as did the entire crew. But that does not mean, that when they got inside a safe harbor of security sequestered as they should be by US Air people, they were not absolutely normal, surviving, hurting, scared humans like anyone else on that flight. Part of their "go into training mode" held off that panic and that is what did keep the 150 passengers in check. But I would bet the raw emotion of the entire story is behind closed doors, as it should have been, for that crew and their personal families. Just the few sentences Lorrie says, Capt. Sullenburger called her to tell her to get the girls out of school indicates some of that.

He is a hero and his experience in the actual "piloting" of planes since 14, the gliding pilot, those things made him head and shoulders about any other person that day for that emergency.

He is an example young people today need to look to seeing preparation in education, training, building on principles and great human care and intereaction as his degrees show.

I cant wait to listen to all the interviews next week.

[nothappyatall]

There''''s a lot more that can be learned from examination of the aircraft, particularly the engines. Among them, possible aerodynamic changes to the aircraft to "route" the bird''''s path AROUND the engine (via deflectors, for example)

Posted by tallinson2

Well in all the years of flight they STILL havent figured out how to deflect birds at 400 MPH, they won''t now by examining the engines, these tests are done in the laboratory with test engines and objects shot at them while being filmed with super slow motion cameras to watch the damage to the rotor blades.

The article said they are trying to determine why the engines failed, they failed because of *BIRD STRIKES* not running out of fuel, not pilot error, not wind sheer- *BIRD STRIKES*

[iautke]

i think the united states should make january 15 some sort of holiday. instead of remembering the bad events that have happened in the past, we should all remember this couragous act for years to come.

[lf1952]

Actually, the most impressive thing about the tape was that you heard almost nothing from the airplane. Obviously the flight crew remembered the basic rule:
(1)Avigate (fly the airplane)then
(2)Navigate (figure where you are going and get there)
and only then..
(3) Communicate

Had they spent more time talking and explaining what they were doing, the odds of a good landing would have been far less. They had their priorities right from the start.

For the non-pilots:
I am told there used be a sign at Washington (ATC) Center that said:
The following are equivalent:
(1)MAYDAY
(2)PAN
(3)Sicuriti (rarely used pro-word for urgency)
(4)"Center, we have a problem"
(as in Apollo 13: "Houston, we have a problem")
This is a mark of a competent pilot...

Oh and for those wondering, the "Cactus" callsign is a holdover from America West Airlines, which became US Air.

[exusmcsgt]

I can''''t recall any successful ditchings in commercial jet aircraft prior to this. Maybe somebody else can.

Posted by sMT451D at 03:45 AM : Feb 06, 2009

There was one in the Carribbean a few years ago.

[exusmcsgt]

McCain could take "hero" lessons from this guy....

[jaykincaid]

Yes, the captain is the hero of Flight 1549. Let''s not forget the other heroes on the flight though. I have not heard anything about them in the news thus far. Who are they? What are their names? Sully may have landed the plane safely that day, but it was the rest of flight crew that landed the people safely.

[smt451d]

I can''t recall any successful ditchings in commercial jet aircraft prior to this. Maybe somebody else can.

[gce65]

I agree...


BOYCOTT KELLOGG!

The picture on the box of Wheaties or Corn Flakes or whatever is just a marketing ploy anyway.

[gfuss2]

Food for thought here. My lifelong friend was a pilot who hauled freight for many yrs till he got older & no longer could pass his 1st class physical. He revealed a past experience to me just a month or so ago that will make you really give this some thought. He passed out @ controls somewhere in Kentucky aprox. 10 mins from landing. Older Bulky aircraft couldn''t be "Trimmed". Multi engine, etc. When he came to his hands were on his knees, head relaxed back over his pilots seat. He checked quickly to see where he was at. He was maintaining same altitude, same heading, & was now only aprox, 3-4 mins out. Landed safely.Got home & discovered his wife got a premonition "dream" whatever,that he went to sleep behind the controls. She started praying to GOD to help him. Later he had aircraft checked & discovered they had fixed windshield w/ type of sealant that was to be used on exterior ONLY! The fumes must''ve knocked him out. That plane should''ve went into a spiral as soon as he relaxed & no longer held yolk. Wonder who was flying that plane for aprox 4-5 mins?

[one_texan]

Sully knew, as all pilots do, that ditching a plane is a hazardous proposition. Still, he was calm and collected. Sully fully deserves all the praise he recieves. I''ll take a seasoned fighter pilot anytime.

[tallinson]

MORE sage advice from newster1, this time for the NTSB;
"SIGH, more wasted money, the bird remains were sent to the SMitsonian, so we already KNOW what happened,why are they wasting tax funds for 12-18 months to fool around with this when its clearly proven what happen- the bird''''s bodies were removed from the engines, geez
Posted by newster1

There''s a lot more that can be learned from examination of the aircraft, particularly the engines. Among them, possible aerodynamic changes to the aircraft to "route" the bird''s path AROUND the engine (via deflectors, for example) in the event of a strike, the mode of damage in the engine, etc., etc. Good thing you aren''t part of the NTSB team. We''d be back to the horse and buggy.

[tallinson]

"LOL, the same one who created the birds and then knowingly let them fly into the engines, yep the crew had help alright, with that kind of ''''help'''' its a wonder they made it, and they only made it because the PILOT had common sense and training and also wanted to live."

Let me see if I understand this. YOU are advising GOD that HE shouldn''t have created birds. THEN YOU are advising GOD that, if HE DOESN''T TAKE YOUR ADVICE and creates birds anyway, HE''D better control where they fly! NOW I GET IT! This whole thing happened because GOD didn''t take YOUR advice! Do you charge a consulting fee? What is your phone number? I might just have to call YOU next time I have an important decision to make! Geeesshh!!

Posted by newster1

[nothappyatall]

"the aircraft was moved from the barge where it had been docked in Jersey City, N.J., to a secure salvage yard in Kearny, N.J, where it will remain throughout the estimated 12 to 18 months the NTSB investigation could take."

SIGH, more wasted money, the bird remains were sent to the SMitsonian, so we already KNOW what happened,why are they wasting tax funds for 12-18 months to fool around with this when its clearly proven what happen- the bird''s bodies were removed from the engines, geez

"Isn''''t it just barely possible the crew was not alone? Maybe, they had some help...from gOD.

Posted by Boston1954"

LOL, the same one who created the birds and then knowingly let them fly into the engines, yep the crew had help alright, with that kind of ''help'' its a wonder they made it, and they only made it because the PILOT had common sense and training and also wanted to live.

[kansas1946]

This is definately the guy you want flying your plane in a pinch. Great pilot.

[tallinson]

"Isn''''t it just barely possible the crew was not alone? Maybe, they had some help...from GOD."

Yes! God was with him when he learned his profession. God was with him when he lived a life that made it possible to face his fate with no fear and to think clearly and properly. His acceptance of God laid the foundation for his skill and ability to perform as he did. To say that God suddenly and miraculously intervened at the last moment leaves too many unanswered questions such as "why did not God help others in similar circumstances?" and demeans the pilot''s skill and preparation. When you live a good and proper life, God is with you in EVERYTHING you do; not just in one catastrophic moment. That is where the old adage, "God helps those who help themselves" comes from. You do not do God service by suggesting that HE chose to intervene in one instance and not in others.

[blackyowe]

I just love this story. It makes you feel so good to know there are still people like this. Compare Capt. Chesley to the fool text messaging in California while piloting a train who wrecked that train and killed himself and others.

[boston1954]

Isn''t it just barely possible the crew was not alone? Maybe, they had some help...from GOD.