This was sent to me this morning by my friend Thea.
Riveting. Since it's out in public already, I figure it's OK to post.
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Subject: Passenger on Flight 1549
> > This is a first-hand account from a passenger on Flight 1549. It is an > internal memo to the members of his firm. It is very well written, is > descriptive, and gives this man's honest reactions to the events around > him. It's from a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, an executive recruiting > firm, who was on Flight 1549. Gerry McNamara (New York/Charlotte) was on > US Airways Flight 1549 last week. Here is his account of the event: > > Thursday was a difficult day for all of us at the firm and I left the Park > Avenue office early afternoon to catch a cab bound for LaGuardia Airport. > > I was scheduled for a 5pm departure, but able to secure a seat on the > earlier flight scheduled to leave at 3pm. As many of us who fly frequently > often do, I recall wondering if I'd just placed myself on a flight I > shouldn't be on! > > Just prior to boarding I finished up a conference call with my associate, > Jenn Sparks (New York), and our placement, the CIO of United Airlines. When > I told him that I was about to board a US Airways flight, we all had a > little fun with it. > > I remember walking on the plane and seeing a fellow with grey hair in the > cockpit and thinking "that's a good thing… I like to see grey hair in the > cockpit!" > > I was seated in 8F, on the starboard side window and next to a young > business man. The New York to Charlotte flight is one I've taken what seems > like hundreds of times over the years. We take off north over the Bronx and > as we climb, turn west over the Hudson River to New Jersey and tack south. > I love to fly, always have, and this flight plan gives a great view of > several NY landmarks including Yankee Stadium and the George Washington > Bridge. > > I had started to point out items of interest to the gentleman next to me > when we heard a terrible crash – a sound no one ever wants to hear while > flying – and then the engines wound down to a screeching halt.10 seconds > later, there was a strong smell of jet fuel. I knew we would be landing and > thought the pilot would take us down no doubt to Newark Airport. As we > began to turn south I noticed the pilot lining up on the river – still – I > thought – en route for Newark. > > Next thing we heard was "Brace for impact!" – a phrase I had heard many > years before as an active duty Marine Officer but never before on a > commercial air flight. Everyone looked at each other in shock. It all > happened so fast we were astonished! > > We began to descend rapidly and it started to sink in. This is the last > flight. I'm going to die today. This is it. I recited my favorite bible > verse, the Lord's Prayer, and asked God to take care of my wife, children, > family and friends. > > When I raised my head I noticed people texting their friends and > family….getting off a last message. My blackberry was turned off and in > my trouser pocket…no time to get at it. Our descent continued and I > prayed for courage to control my fear and help if able. > > I quickly realized that one of two things was going to happen, neither of > them good. We could hit by the nose, flip and break up, leaving few if any > survivors, bodies, cold water, fuel. Or we could hit one of the wings and > roll and flip with the same result. I tightened my seat belt as tight as I > could possibly get it so I would remain intact. > > As we came in for the landing, I looked out the windows and remember seeing > the buildings in New Jersey, the cliffs in Weehawken, and then the piers. > The water was dark green and sure to be freezing cold. The stewardesses > were yelling in unison: "Brace! Brace! Brace!" > > It was a violent hit – the water flew up over my window – but we bobbed up > and were all amazed that we remained intact. > > There was some panic – people jumping over seats and running towards the > doors, but we soon got everyone straightened out and calmed down. There > were a lot of people that took leadership roles in little ways. Those > sitting at the doors over the wing did a fantastic job…they were opened > in a New York second! Everyone worked together – teamed up and in groups to > figure out how to help each other. > > I exited on the starboard side of the plane, 3 or 4 rows behind my seat > through a door over the wing and was, I believe, the 10th or 12th person > out. I took my seat cushion as a flotation device and once outside saw I > was the only one who did….none of us remembered to take the yellow > inflatable life vests from under the seat. > > We were standing in 6-8 inches of water and it was freezing. There were two > women on the wing, one of whom slipped off into the water. Another > passenger and I pulled her back on and had her kneel down to keep from > falling off again. By that point we were totally soaked and absolutely > frozen from the icy wind. > > The ferries were the first to arrive, and although they're not made for > rescue, they did an incredible job. I know this river, having swum in it as > a boy. The Hudson is an estuary – part salt and part fresh water – and > moves with the tide. I could tell the tide was moving out because we were > tacking slowly south towards Ellis Island, The Statue of Liberty, and The > Battery. > > The first ferry boat pulled its bow up to the tip of the wing, and the > first mate lowered the Jacobs ladder down to us. We got a couple people up > the ladder to safety, but the current was strong pushing the stern of the > boat into the inflatable slide and we were afraid it would puncture > it…there must have been 25 passengers in it by now. Only two or three > were able to board the first ferry before it moved away. > > Another ferry came up, and we were able to get the woman that had fallen > into the water on the ladder, but she just couldn't move her legs and fell > off. Back onto the ladder she went; however, the ferry had to back away > because of the swift current. A helicopter arrived on station (nearly > blowing us all off the wing) and followed the ferry with the woman on the > ladder. We lost view of the situation but I believe the helicopter lowered > its basket to rescue her. > > > > As more ferries arrived, we were able to get people up on the boats a few > at a time. The fellow in front of me fell off the ladder and into the > water. When we got him back on the ladder he could not move his legs to > climb. I couldn't help him from my position so I climbed up the ladder to > the ferry deck where the first mate and I hoisted the Jacobs ladder with > him on it…when he got close enough we grabbed his trouser belt and hauled > him on deck. We were all safely off the wing. > > We could not stop shaking. Uncontrollable shaking. The only thing I had > with me was my blackberry, which had got ten wet and was not working. (It > started working again a few hours later.) > > The ferry took us to the Weehawken Terminal in NJ where I borrowed a phone > and called my wife to let her know I was okay. The second call I made was > to Jenn. I knew she would be worried about me and could communicate to the > rest of the firm that I was fine. At the terminal, first responders > assessed everyone's condition and sent people to the hospital as needed. As > we pulled out of Weehawken my history kicked in and I recall it was the > site of the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. > Thankfully I left town in better condition than Mr. Hamilton who died of a > mortal wound the next day! I stayed with my sister on Long Island that > evening, then flew home the next day. > > > > I am struck by what was truly a miracle. Had this happened a few hours > later, it would have been pitch dark and much harder to land. Ferries would > no longer have been running after rush hour and it would not have been the > same uplifting story. Surely there would have been fatalities, hypothermia, > an absolute disaster! > > I witnessed the best of humanity that day. I and everyone on that plane > survived and have been given a second chance. It struck me that in our work > we continuously seek excellence to solve our client's leadership problems. > We talk to clients all the time about the importance of experience and the > ability to execute. Experience showed up big time on Flight 1549 as our > pilot was a dedicated, trained, experienced professional who executed > flawlessly when he had to. > > I have received scores of emails from across the firm and I am so grateful > for the outpouring of interest and concern. We all fly a great deal or work > with someone who does and so I wanted to share this story – the story of a > miracle. I am thankful to be here to tell the tale. > > There is a great deal to be learned including: Why has this happened to me? > Why have I survived and what am I supposed to do with this gift? For me, > the answers to these questions and more will come over time, but already I > find myself being more patient and forgiving, less critical and judgmental. > > > > For now I have 4 lessons I would like to share: > > 1. Cherish your families as never before and go to great lengths to keep > your promises. > > 2. Be thankful and grateful for everything you have and don't worry about > the things you don't have. > > 3. Keep in shape. You never know when you'll be called upon to save your > own life, or help someone else save theirs. > > 4. When you fly, wear practical clothing. You never know when you'll end up > in an emergency or on an icy wing in flip flops and pajamas and of > absolutely no use to yourself or anyone else. > > And I'd like to add: Fly with gray-haired pilots! |
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