Sully

         The captain, Sully saved 155 people’ s lives and nobody died when the plane crashed on the Hudson River. Even if everyone was cheerful and hailed him as a hero in public, on the other hand, he and his first mate, Jeff Skiles were still judged and needed to be found if there were human mistakes by NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board). They were about to hold the public hearing, which there were computer simulations with real humans. However, would the result of the simulations be the same as the real situation that exactly happened? The whole investigation was quite grueling and Sully was in the spotlight all of a sudden, which the public talked about this incident at all times. Meanwhile, the journalists liked using some words to puzzle the public’s judgment. How Sully was calmed and dealt with this bad situation against him? Let’s go back that day when it happened.

          On the chilly afternoon of January 15, 2009, the aircraft, which Sully and Jeff piloted took off. The weather was clear and freezing cold. All passengers were happy and shared their plans with someone who sat next to him or her or talked about destinations they were heading to. They had no ideas what it would happen before long, so it was filled with happy atmosphere on board. After takeoff just in while, they had a bird strike and it caused both engines to lose thrust, which kept both engines idling. When all passengers thought it was a turbulence, Sully had been sending a signal, “Mayday, Mayday.” He was so calmed that he eyeballed all surroundings to try what he could do in that difficult situation that he had never met. Originally, Sully was planning to head back toward La Guardia. Whether it was Teterboro airport or New Jersey airport, the control tower tried to help out hard in order to let the plane landed safely. Unluckily, the altitude of the aircraft was too low to return back to the airport and time was limited. The captain, Sully drew on all of his experiences and skills to decide to land on the Hudson River. Soon, the ships and the choppers received an emergency call and headed to the destination where they could rescue people. I was moved by this scene. I imagined what if I was in that emergency situation. I might be going to die. Who would I want to talk to for the last time? When the captain reported, “This is the captain.” “Brace for impact” I was thinking what I was going to do because I was never trained for this emergency situation when I was in midair. After landing on the river, I knew I was still alive and soon I saw the ships and helicopters came toward us. I thought the mood was beyond description, but the heart was packed with all appreciations. When landing on the Hudson River, the captain Sully was tempted to make sure if all passengers on board evacuated safely. He told the police officers, “This is a domestic flight. There is no manifest, but there are 155 including the crew. We need to count right away.” Although I think it was a huge successful water landing and nobody got hurt, and it should be pretty cheerful, I just don’t understand why some reporters liked using negative words that might affect people’s judgment. For cost through rate or it was an outstanding report?

          With this kind of unfortunate incident happened, Sully got a lot of the media invitation. When he turned on the TV, all news were all about  him. It seemed to tell him how bad decision he made and sometimes, he recalled that day when it happened again and again. He also imagined what if he couldn’t control it well and then the plane dumped into the buildings that were in the densest area in New York. All of the situations he faced were grueling. Also, he was told,” According to ACARS (Aircraft Communications, Reporting and Addressing System) data, the left engine was still operating at idle. That could’ve had thrust.” It meant Sully could have landed on the runway instead of the Hudson River. “NTSB was investigating it.” said his friend.

          With what I mentioned above, he also faced some people’s judgment because of reports. I really don’t like what the two reporters reported. “Why Captain Sullenberger made that fateful decision to turn the Hudson into a runway? Well, only he can answer. But we now know it was the wrong choice that endangered the lives of all of those on-board. So while much of the country hails him as a hero, this new information will certainly change everyone’s understanding of the so-called “Miracle on the Hudson River.” “Sully Sullenberger, are you a hero or a fraud?” said one of the reporters. The other one said,” whoever has miraculously survived this plummet form the skies into the icy Hudson has about 300 of New York’s finest ready to help them, but the only question remaining is if it will be too late?” As a matter of fact, I wonder if it were late, then what would be quick? Did all helpers already stand by on the river before the plane crashed?

         In the end, Sully and Jeff came to the public hearing, which two computer simulations were completed by Airbus. The two simulations showed that they made it back to the airport safely. There were no questions. After watching those simulations, Sully said he couldn’t quite believe what these simulations showed. Although the worker who hosted the public hearing claimed that two computer simulations exactly mimicked the exact situation, Sully still struck back and won his reputation back with his calmness and analysis. He said,” You still have not taken into account the human factor and you have allowed no time for analysis and decision-making. Immediately after the bird strike, the pilots, who piloted the plane for the computer simulations, are turning back to the airport, just like going back to pick up the milk.” The worker who hosted allowed them to add 35 seconds for human’s reaction. After that, it proved that the human piloted simulations failed to make it back to the airport. When he was questioned, he doubted himself about the decision-making. However, he was right and rescue 155 souls on board. He was hugged by strangers and they said thanks to him. If I had a chance to meet him in person, I must hug him and say thanks to him too.