Miracle On The Hudson: Sullenberger Talks About The Second Anniversary (VIDEO)

January 15th marks the two-year anniversary of the "Miracle of the Hudson," the, well, miraculous landing of a Charlotte-bound U.S. Airways plane by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in the Hudson River.

It's hard to believe that it's been two years since that amazing moment that captivated America. Since then, the crew and passengers have reunited and raised a glass to their deft captain and even found love with each other. On January 5th it was announced that the formerly sunken plane will head to a North Carolina museum to be preserved.

The Associated Press caught up with Captain Sullenberger to discuss his feelings two years later. With the same precision with which he landed the plane in water, Sullenberger chats about why the moment was so seminal and what he's learned about the experience.

WATCH:

Comments

[GoNewsNOW TV]

03:11 PM on 01/17/2011

HILARIOUS SPOOF of HUDSON LANDING! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oga919iF8RU

[MajorKong]

10:15 AM on 01/16/2011

Sorry, but I fail to see the miracle here and I think we've really lowered the bar for what counts as miraculous.

I would consider a miracle to be something on the order of angels descending from Heaven and carrying the plane back to LaGuardia.

No laws of physics or aerodynamics were violated here. Nothing happened beyond human comprehension.

A well trained and highly experienced crew, flying a well engineered aircraft, performed flawlessly in a difficult situation, assisted by top notch air traffic control and emergency responders.

[Merckx]

10:32 AM on 01/16/2011

You must be fun at parties.

[MajorKong]

02:13 PM on 01/16/2011

Silly me. I must have missed the part on the cockpit voice recorder where God told Sully to move over and grabbed the controls himself.

I guess Sully should have just thrown up his hands and said "OK Lord, you've got it. No need for me to do anything."

[PresidentRobertBooth]

09:45 AM on 01/16/2011

It wasn't a miracle, but rather top quality piloting.

[Doktorkev]

02:42 AM on 01/16/2011

This man put a plane down on the Hudson and made it look softer than a diaper on a baby's bottom.....

unbelievable

[MartaGB]

12:22 AM on 01/16/2011

2008 had been hard times.... I will Never Forget this Event/Day... The calm reassuring voice of Mr Sullenberger, that was the first time I ever used my facebook acct to send a msg. It was to Thank him, for bring the plane down safe. Life was looking up again!!!
Mr Sully, I Listen to that tape many times then, your voice had a way of making me calm while my man was at war. That same firm, decisive, sure, tone and thinking... puts a woman's mind at rest. It was what I was missing from him, it kept me hanging on and I hope you get to read this. You served your country in many ways that day. Thank You

[Top Story Weekly]

12:03 AM on 01/16/2011

Our weekly comedy show in Hollywood has had a lot of good-natured fun with Sully over the past few years - the sister of one of our cast members was on the plane! Here's links to some of the sketches we've done:

http://www­.topstoryw­eekly.com/­2010/04/23­/watch-ash­es-to-ashe­s-from-top­-story-wee­kly-episod­e-49-no-mo­re-kings/

http://www­.topstoryw­eekly.com/­2010/08/26­/watch-que­-el-hache-­from-top-s­tory-weekl­y-episode-­66-lost-in­-a-mosque-­erade/

http://www­.topstoryw­eekly.com/­2010/01/02­/chesley-b­-sully-sul­lenberger-­at-the-201­0-tourname­nt-of-rose­s-parade/

http://www­.topstoryw­eekly.com/­2009/10/16­/watch-bri­nging-sull­y-back-fro­m-top-stor­y-weekly-e­pisode-23-­blame-it-o­n-rio/”

[Top Story Weekly]

12:36 AM on 01/16/2011

Whoops - links didn't paste right - here they are:

http://www.topstoryweekly.com/2010/04/23/watch-ashes-to-ashes-from-top-story-weekly-episode-49-no-more-kings/

http://www.topstoryweekly.com/2010/08/26/watch-que-el-hache-from-top-story-weekly-episode-66-lost-in-a-mosque-erade/

http://www.topstoryweekly.com/2010/01/02/chesley-b-sully-sullenberger-at-the-2010-tournament-of-roses-parade/

http://www.topstoryweekly.com/2009/10/16/watch-bringing-sully-back-from-top-story-weekly-episode-23-blame-it-on-rio/

[Wood]

11:31 PM on 01/15/2011

Sully!

[rahau]

11:31 PM on 01/15/2011

One possible reason why this story remains popular: It negates everything the self-styled "cynics" would have us believe. They say they are too sophisticated to believe in anything. As such, they have no principles, no ideals, no core convictions.

The sad fact is, these people hide behind the fig leaf of "cynicism" to cover their laziness, shallowness, and gutlessness. But when an event like this happens, their fig leaf is stripped away - and they can't stand that. Witness some of the comments on this thread.

I'm not one to romanticize anything, including this episode. Sully and his co-pilot were not fearless. They admit to hammering pulses during the emergency. They are not supermen. They were two smart, skilled pilots who rose to the occasion on the strength of their experience and emotional discipline. No amount of cynicism would have helped them through this event . The self-styled cynics know that, and it drives them mad with envy.

[bernard0]

10:39 PM on 01/15/2011

I really don't understand why this man hasn't been given the medal of freedom.

[AngusC]

10:33 PM on 01/15/2011

That man is a bad mother shut your mouth.
Respect.

[Boobuzuela]

10:12 PM on 01/15/2011

The crash in Sioux City is the one that always gets to me. By all rights NO ONE should have survived that one. But many did, thanks to the pilots, and the third guy who came up to help with the throttles.

[KayDGee]

11:18 PM on 01/15/2011

Absolutely. Cpt. Al Haynes actually glided that DC10... and those things don't glide. A friend of mine was on that flight - Only thing he lost was his glasses. Wonder what ever happened to Haynes. I'm sure he is still rmembered by many in their prayers - He was a hero, as were the crews and those who stepped up to assist during both emergencies

[DDay52]

09:01 PM on 01/15/2011

It was a miracle, and thank God everyone escaped without injury. But my question is: would we be reading about this 2-year anniversary if this event had happened anywhere else but in New York? If it happened in Seattle or St. Louis? I don't think we would. It just confirms my thinking that in the world of news and media, a New York City life is worth more than any other life.

[mainemomma]

09:33 PM on 01/15/2011

No, it was such a miracle it is to be remembered. Whether it came from NYC or Seattle, or anywhere else. To have that many lives saves is an event;.. period.

[DDay52]

10:32 PM on 01/15/2011

Yes, I know! BUT and a BIG but, my point is that the very same event WOULD NOT be as well remembered and commemorated if if did not take place in New York City.

[shbkyn]

08:53 PM on 01/15/2011

Why are people so selfish, and ungrateful, when we see, and have miracles, not only that, but the amazing skillful actions of this pilot, we can never forget him. He does not seem to be the type to bash in all this public attention, either. Thank you Sully, and good luck.

[sski74]

08:49 PM on 01/15/2011

American Hero. Period.

[starbuckscoffee]

08:26 PM on 01/15/2011

I wonder if he every gets tired talking about the accident.