Flight 1549: A Routine Takeoff Turns Ugly

Captain Sullenberger Recalls The Bird Strike And The Tense And Crucial Minutes That Followed

(CBS)  This story was first published on Feb. 8, 2009. It was updated on July 4, 2009.

When US Airways flight 1549 landed in New York's Hudson River on Jan. 15, what seemed destined to be a tragedy became an extraordinary tale of success and survival. By the time all 155 people were pulled from the icy waters by a flotilla of rescue boats, a story began to emerge of a highly trained pro with a cool demeanor who had deftly guided his doomed aircraft to safety.

In an instant, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger found himself at the heart of an uplifting news story people all over the world wanted to celebrate.

In February, just two weeks later, Capt. Sullenberger gave Katie Couric and 60 Minutes his first account of the harrowing five minutes in the sky over New York City.

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"It was the worst sickening pit of your stomach, falling through the floor feeling I've ever felt in my life. I knew immediately it was very bad," Sullenberger told correspondent Katie Couric.

"Did you think, 'How are we gonna get ourselves out of this?'" Couric asked.

"No. My initial reaction was one of disbelief. 'I can't belief this is happening. This doesn't happen to me,'" he remembered.

Asked what he meant by that, Sullenberger said, "I meant that I had this expectation that my career would be one in which I didn't crash an airplane."

First responders in New York City expected the worst - an Airbus A320 with 155 people down in the middle of the frigid Hudson River. Only five minutes earlier, Captain Sullenberger had taken off from LaGuardia Airport on a routine flight bound for Charlotte, N.C.

"Well, it was a normal climb out in every regard. And about 90 seconds after takeoff, I notice there were birds, filling the entire windscreen, from top to bottom, left to right, large birds, close, too close to avoid," Sullenberger recalled.

Asked when he realized there had been a bird strike, he said, "Oh, you could hear them, as soon as they did. Loud thumps. It felt like the airplane being pelted by heavy rain or hail. It sounded like the worst thunderstorm I'd ever heard growing up in Texas. It was shocking. "

"When did you realize that these birds had seriously damaged the aircraft?" Couric asked.

"When I felt, heard and smelled the evidence of them going into the engines. I heard the noises. I felt the engine vibrations, of the damage being done to the engines. And I smelled what I described at the time, and I still would as a burned bird smell being brought from the engine area into the conditioning system of the airplane," he said.

He said he realized right away that the engines were failing. "It was obvious to me from the moment that we lost the thrust that this was a critical situation. Losing thrust on both engines, at a low speed, at a low altitude, over one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Yes, I knew it was a very challenging situation."

The plane, Sullenberger explained, lost forward momentum almost completely. "The airplane stopped climbing and going forward, and began to rapidly slow down. That's when I knew I had to take control of the airplane."

"I put my hand on the side stick and I said, the protocol for the transfer of control, 'my aircraft,' and the first officer Jeff immediately answered, 'Your aircraft,'" Sullenberger remembered.

With no engine power, Sullenberger had to glide the jet. "You use the forward momentum to provide the air flow over the wings to provide the sufficient lift."

Asked what was going through his head, Sullenberger told Couric, "I knew immediately that this, unlike every other flight I'd had for 42 years, was probably not going to end with the airplane undamaged on the runway."

Bird Strike:

[moreyel]

When CBS contracted to interview a true American hero, they should have known by then that he is a very intelligent, well spoken, thoughtful person. To have someone as empty headed as Couric interviewing him was shameful. Yes, she tried to get him to say there was panic in the isles and blood was flowing, but he wouldnt acquiesce. It could have been so much better with an interviewer that realized Sully's intelligence and asked more intelligent and thought provoking questions. I'm not sure what hold Ms Couric has over CBS, such as a high powered relative in the business or similar, but she is a disgrace. It wasnt hard to see Capt. Sullenberger was somewhat taken aback by her questions, but in true form, he answered politely and as thoroughly as he could, given the emptiness of the questions.

[Randers4]

I am so very very upset, why have you let that Stale Drug Bill Couric insult those "Real Heros" for over 30 minutes, no wonder I'm out of work, I could never put on a show so stale, we have ALL heard ALL of it before, that Captain & his staff deserve all they can get but they don't deserve the insults of Couric, the only reason I watch CBS as it is, is because my real dad is Bob Simons?/Pat Sjakak, me & Susie Richards only know him as Everette Francis Richards, then there is the guy that helped raised me like an Uncle, your Steve that is doing his Son's interview, Jon Bon Jovi........who used to be......??!! & is still.........??!! My Dad would never ever let me act like Katie Couric & I'm feeling really cheated, neither would Warren Kolen.

[mikeinak26]

I am so tired of seeing this guy pat his own back. This guy did what he was trained to do. Stay calm and focused. One or two interviews would have been enough but this guy loves the spotlight. He's not a professional anymore. He wants a career on TV. Sad.

[KahunaHawaii]

Katie has to go.. she is not attractive and not bright.. who writes her questions anyway..
let the man tell his story and stop interrupting the track of energy with your wide eyed
little girl look, yukkk.

[HannibalHayes]

Katie Couric is without a doubt the worst interviewer I have ever heard. Watching the captains face when he was asked one dumb question after another by this "journalist" is laughable, no wonder network news ratings are down, hope her contract ends soon and CBS can replace her with some one with at least some interviewing skills

[goodsamarata]

For crying out loud what''s the deal with this hate crowd going after Couric???
I thought the interview went on smoothly, even if it was edited that way, it went well covering every aspect of the Hudson adventure.
If we''re going to start to ditch on someone like Couric then let''s go after all of them.
I don''t think there''s a single interviewer out there that''s worth one tenth of what they''re getting paid with the excpetion of Bill Moyers and Charlie Rose.
Everyone else want to play it safe and keep it all superficial and family friendly, not just Couric.
It''s some kind of contagious disease that has pestered the US MSM for decades.

I cringed during Couric''s entire interview with Captain Sullenberger and the crew. I had a good laugh when she positioned her glasses on the end of her nose while talking to the crew. Was this just a pathetic attempt to appear studious and interested? CBS are definitely not getting their money''s worth from this "reporter".

[richardj390]

Katie Couric is awful. Just awful. The geese that hit that plane had more sense than Katie has. It must have pained this pilot to have to sit in the same room with someone as stupid and asinine as Couric.

[happygrandm1]

While I greatly appreciated "Captain Sully''s" answers, I think Katie''s questions were asnine and stupid. One of the comments here is that she was "sensitive!" Perhaps, but she should have just let him relay the information as he saw fit. The look in his eyes told me he was "suffering fools" patiently, still in a degree of shock, and wished it was over. He is a true American hero at a time when we need one, but I hope he can soon return to the peace and quiet of his home and family very soon.

[closethippy1]

Ever since I heard about this story I''ve been fantasizing about how, like, I''d be on that 1549 flight and all of a sudden the pilot and co-pilot faint after the birds hit the plane''s engine and disable them and the flight attendants look all panicky. I get up to check out what''s going on and I realize I have to take control of the plane and get that Sully guy out of his seat and radio for help.
And then they tell me what to do and I''d be, like, "No La Guardia or Jersey for me, mister. I''ll only be able to go glide this thing on the Hudson."
And then they''ll give me an idea of what to do and I land the plane on the Hudson safely.
But I''d never appear on Larry King, that guy is boring!