Flight 1549: Saving 155 Souls In Minutes

The Entire US Airways Crew Recalls The Dramatic Evacuation And Aftermath

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

The job of evacuating 150 passengers fell to five of the most experienced pilots and flight attendants in the business. The crew of US Airways flight 1549 described the tense final moments, from the time the engines went out until every passenger was back on land.

60 Minutes and correspondent Katie Couric met the crew inside a US Airways hangar in Charlotte, N.C.

Among them they have well over 100 years of experience in the air. They are, along with Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, First Officer Jeff Skiles and flight attendants Donna Dent, Sheila Dail, and Doreen Welsh, who was seriously injured.

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"This is the first time you all have worn your uniforms since January 15th. Doreen? You don't have yours on," Couric pointed out.

"I just can't put it on yet. My uniform was in shreds, soaking wet. I had a different story in the back of that airplane, and mine was more violent and more - the uniform just went to pieces. I can't explain. I'm just not ready to put it on yet," Welsh replied.

To this day, Welsh still hasn't put her uniform back on. At the time of the accident, she and the rest of the crew were on the final leg of a four-day trip when the plane lost power. Co-pilot Jeff Skiles was the one who first spotted the birds.

"When you felt them hit the aircraft, did you know right away what they had done to the engines?" Couric asked.

"Both engines went right back to kind of a hushed state. And that's probably just about as bad as it gets when you're an airline pilot, to hear that," Skiles said.

"Which brings me to you all. Did you know what was going on?" Couric asked the flight attendants.

"It was so quiet," Dail remembered. "And Donna and I were seated beside each other. She was there. And I was here. And it so quiet. And I said, 'What was that?' And we were, you know, I whispered. And you did say, 'Maybe a bird strike.'"

"What was the sensation inside the cabin after the birds hit the engines?" Couric asked.

"I had some panic in the back. And I got out of my seat and I calmed everyone down. I said, 'It's okay.' I said, 'We might have lost one engine. We'll circle around.' And so I thought well everything is okay, and then I heard the old 'Brace for impact,'" Welsh remembered.

Asked what her reaction was hearing those words, Welsh said, "Terror, sheer terror."

Brace For Impact:

[myquantumhealing]

Dear Ms. Welch,

After seeing you on 60 Minutes, I can sense how traumatic this event was for you and the others on Flight 1549. I would like to offer you my professional assistance for help with post traumatic stress or related trauma in relation to this event. I specialize in helping people release past traumas. My work is typically fast and most people don't usually require more then 6 sessions.

I am offing my services to you free of charge and have spoken with the New York City Red Cross. If you are interested in receiving help, please contact the Red Cross and speak with the Chairperson of Disaster Metal Health, who has my contact information and website address.

Please know that I offer telephone, computer and in person sessions. I am happy to work with you in any way that is convenient to you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bloom

[elmley]

As soon as I saw the introduction where we see Katie on the right and a photo of Sully on left so that both are the same proportion on the TV screen, I knew the purpose of her interview was to suck some of the good vibes/karma from Sully to stick on herself. She conducted the interview as means to get a high rating. She is sinking in the polls and needs a rescue too!

Certainly a good story, but she could have asked better questions...Is it hard to steer a jet when it doesn''t have power? Was he looking at his instruments as he landed the plane or looking out the window? He''s a nuts and bolts guy with a big heart, ask him technical questions.

[elmley]

As soon as I saw the introduction where we see Katie on the right and a photo of Sully on left so that both are the same proportion on the TV screen, I knew the purpose of her interview was to suck some of the good vibes/karma from Sully to stick on herself. She conducted the interview as means to get a high rating. She is sinking in the polls and needs a rescue too!

Certainly a good story, but she could have asked better questions...Is it hard to steer a jet when it doesn''t have power? Was he looking at his instruments as he landed the plane or looking out the window? He''s a nuts and bolts guy with a big heart, ask him technical questions.

[drw366]

How refreshing to finally see a dramatic event with an unambiguous, positive conclusion that one can genuinely feel good about. The very best of humanity was on display that cold afternoon. There were many quiet heroes, with Captain Sully being only the most prominent, and their collective legacy shall endure. His humility, dignity, grace and articulation was most refreshing, and speaks well of the profession.

[drw366]

How refreshing to finally see a dramatic event with an unambiguous, positive conclusion that one can genuinely feel good about. The very best of humanity was on display that cold afternoon. There were many quiet heroes, with Captain Sully being only the most prominent, and their collective legacy shall endure. His humility, dignity, grace and articulation was most refreshing, and speaks well of the profession.

[fourteenwest]

I never thought 60mins would feature such a sappy version of so dramatic an event. Katie and her schoolgirl questions and coy demeanor made Larry King look insightful. 60min is the paradigm of broadcast journalism, not cutesy morning TV.

[fourteenwest]

I never thought 60mins would feature such a sappy version of so dramatic an event. Katie and her schoolgirl questions and coy demeanor made Larry King look insightful. 60min is the paradigm of broadcast journalism, not cutesy morning TV.

[fourteenwest]

I never thought 60mins would feature such a sappy version of so dramatic an event. Katie and her schoolgirl questions and coy demeanor made Larry King look insightful. 60min is the paradigm of broadcast journalism, not morning TV.

[bobgmrg]

For what it''s worth, Sully got his glider pilot certificate when he was 14...that is the only certificate available to anyone younger than 17. He certainly did not learn to glide airliners. The AP story made it appear has though he had "mastered flying gliders" later in his career.

[pmsuper]

Katie Couric was a delightful, young woman with a cute flair. But she does not translate well to a mature woman as a serious interviewer. Not just anyone would It is like a child star who can''t become an adult one.

I like that he dodged her question about prayer and god. Why do interviewers insist on probing people''s belief systems? It''s not a "deep" question, only an intrusive one.

It was a good show and well done, except for the weak interview questions.

The poster below who felt that the blond stewardess would make a comedy act should re-examine her humanity. What a foul comment to make about a person who almost died, yet still did her job.