“We’re Gonna Be In The Hudson …”
FOX:
Full Audio of Flight 1549 to air control here.
FAA Releases Cockpit Tapes From US Airways Flight 1549 Before Hudson River Landing
The pilot of the crippled US Airways jet that landed in the Hudson River predicted that he might be forced to bring the plane down in the water, according to cockpit recordings released Thursday by the FAA.
In the tapes, air traffic controllers can be heard communicating with Flight 1549’s captain, Chesley Sullenberger, who tells them he lost both engines and is heading back to the airport to land the plane.
Sullenberger stays calm throughout, but at one point warns that “we’re gonna be in the Hudson.”
Click here for excerpts of the tapes and transcripts.
The recordings capture the first distress calls made by Sullenberger to air traffic control.
“We’ve got an emergency return,” a controller says. “He’s had a bird strike. He’s returning immediately. … He lost both engines, he said.”
Controllers tell him that Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, where the flight originated, is available.
Sullenberger says he won’t make it that far.
“Unable,” he says. “We may end up in the Hudson.”
Controllers suggest nearby Teterboro Airport instead.
At first Sullenberger says yes. Less than 20 seconds later, he realizes that, too, will be impossible.
“We’re unable,” Sullenberger tells controllers. “We’re gonna be in the Hudson.”
The tapes reflect the initial confusion about whether the passenger jet went into the river.
“I’m sorry, say again,” 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, which had been bound for Charlotte, N.C. Air traffic control lost contact w
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The pilot was calm as a cucumber. A total professional throughout. Magnum kudos to him.
That my friends is the way to face emergencies.
