The End of the Flight 1549 Saga for Now

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

We, unlike some elements of the media(if we can call ourselves that), do not like to milk a story until its becomes too old. Until there are more developments, we intend to update you on a few items of interest, and move on to new topics.

The cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorders were recovered from the aircraft after it was finally lifted out of the water on Sunday and placed on a barge. After its fuel tanks were drained, it was docked in Jersey City, where the investigation will continue. The missing left engine has apparently been located, but icy conditions prevent its recovery at this time.

The recorders thus far seem to indicate a series of loud thumps after the crew commented on a nearby flock of birds. Both engines lost power simultaneously at 3,200 feet, 90 seconds after takeoff. Both pilot and co-pilot in interviews acknowledge there was no time to take evasive action, and reaching a runway was unlikely based on speed and rate of descent.

New York’s Mayor Bloomberg honored the emergency workers, the crew of the plane, and of the boats which came to the plane’s rescue. The Captain, Chesley “Sulley” Sullenberger, was not able to accept his key to the city as he was awaiting his NTSB debriefing before making any public statement. He, however, is gaining much media attention in his absence, and will be interviewed on Monday by the Today Show for the first of what will likely be many interviews. His hometown of Danville, California is planning a homecoming celebration and the pilot and his family will be attending the inauguration of President Obama.

Most importantly, remember that the next time we slip into the mindset of thinking of flight attendants as glorified sky waitresses, remember this is exactly the sort of situation they are trained to take charge in, despite how rare it is.

The Cranky Flier has some good points on his post on the subject. It was the first jet since 1968 to ditch in the water and maintain full structural integrity, for example.

In a related piece of irony, one of the articles we had planned to write about this week was an article from CNN on Monday on how for the first time in history, U.S. carriers have gone without a single passenger fatility. A single year without a fatality has only occurred four times since 1958. It is amazing that we did not lose that record this week.

For more information, some links are available below. Tomorrow we will move on.

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