Piloting Faith: Crash landing in the Hudson taught us all a good lesson

A Word for the Day...

Ten years ago many of us were plastered to our televisions watching the rescue of passengers from US Airways Flight 1539 piloted by Captain Sully Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles. The weather that day was beautiful. They had ten miles visibility with broken clouds at 3,700 feet, winds at 8 knots from 290 degrees. Sullenberger even remarked to Skiles, “What a view of the Hudson today.” But then the unthinkable happened. Bird strike. Both engines out. Only 2,800 feet off the ground and flying at 185 knots groundspeed. With such little altitude, Sullenberger had very few options and no room for mistakes. As he took manual control of the plane, he radioed a mayday call to the tower at LaGuardia.

“Cactus 1549, hit birds, lost thrust in both engines, we are turning back towards LaGuardia.”

The tower responded, “Okay, you need to turn back to LaGuardia, turn left heading 220.”

The tower then cleared them to land on Runway 13 at LaGuardia, stopping all other traffic on the runways. Sullenberger called back and said they wouldn’t make it. Quickly, they considered the airports in New Jersey. Teterboro airport might be possible. The controller cleared that airport, but after a few minutes Sullenberger came back over the radio and said, “We can’t do it... We’re gonna be in the Hudson.” Ninety seconds later, Flight 1549 made an unpowered ditching at 125 knots into the middle of the Hudson River. And...no one died that day.

In later interviews, Captain Sullenberger stressed that their relentless training ensured that they knew what to do to in this situation. Except, no one had ever done this - there were no simulator trainings or checklists for landing a plane safely in the Hudson River.

Being prepared for the challenges life might throw your way is smart. Training is essential. Being lucky helps. But more than all of this, believing in yourself is everything. You are a child of God, made from God's creative energy. The real miracle of that day was watching every person on that plane rise to the occasion and work together. That was the moment that gave us all hope.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

Lord,

Blessed are those who hunger for justice.

In your mercy, Lord, remember those who are desperate, exhausted, beaten down, and forgotten today.

Remember those who are unfairly imprisoned.

Remember those who have limited opportunities, who see no chance to make things better.

Remember those born into failed families, neighborhoods, nations. Remember those growing up in broken circumstances of all kinds. Remember the widow and the orphan.

Remember those whose lives are torn apart by war, or racism, or religious persecution, or unfair laws that prevent them from building a life for themselves and their families.

In your sight, they are my mother and father, my sister and brother, and I am their keeper.

You have called them blessed. Help them to hear your surprising word today. Bless them. Provide for their deepest hunger. Show me my part in that provision, and help me to act on it, for your glory and the welfare of your people.

Amen.

(adapted from The Prayer Wheel by Patton Dodd, Jana Riess, and David Van Biema)