Captain Sully, hero of ‘Miracle on the Hudson,’ shares chilling theory on the DC plane crash
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the legendary pilot who was responsible for the “Miracle on the Hudson,” has divulged his horrifying theory regarding the terrible midair collision that occurred near Washington, District of Columbia, between an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the United States Army.
The pilot who is best known for landing a jet in the Hudson River in 2009, Sullenberger, recently gave an interview to The New York Times in which he discussed the challenges that pilots encounter when flying at night, particularly over water.
It was his hypothesis that the limited ground lighting over the sea might have been a significant factor in the collision being more difficult to avoid.
“Nighttime always makes things different about seeing other aircraft — basically all you can do is see the lights on them,” the aviation expert, who is 74 years old, said.
“Nighttime makes things different.” In order to provide further explanation regarding the difficulty that pilots encounter, he stated, “You need to try to figure out: Are they above you or below you?” Or, how far away is it?
Sullenberger expressed his hope that the data from the flight data recorder, the information from the cockpit voice recorder, and the information from air traffic control may help provide additional answers. The news has left me in utter disbelief.
It is our responsibility to grow as a result of every setback and to learn from our mistakes,” he stated.
Additionally, he had a discussion on the possible impact that the design of Reagan National Airport played in contributing to the disaster. Sullenberger pointed out that as a result of the airport’s narrow runways and frequent traffic, pilots require specialized training in order to handle the airport in a safe manner.
This statement was made in reference to the lengthy history of the airport. “It hasn’t changed much since [the 1930s],” he added. We have, without a doubt, incorporated technology into it. However, a significant portion of the technology is quite outdated.
Sully’s observations also touched on the significance of adhering to stringent safety measures over the entirety of one’s career in flying.
When he was asked about aviation safety, he compared it to a line of dominoes, saying, “It is difficult to have the diligence and the dedication to adhere to best practices on every minute of every hour of every day, every week, every month, and every year for a career that spans decades in the aviation industry.
” In spite of the fact that we have a great deal of safety, any slip-up could potentially result in death.
Flight 5342 of American Airlines and a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members were involved in the accident, which brings to light the dangers of air travel and the continuous significance of gaining knowledge from catastrophes.
The authorities are hopeful that the black boxes that have been recovered from the Potomac River may shed light on what went wrong in the moments leading up to the accident. Rescue personnel are continuing to rescue dead and debris from the river.
The reflections of Sullenberger serve as a reminder of the intricacies inherent in flying, particularly at night, as well as the crucial role of alertness, preparedness, and technology in the prevention of mishaps.
