Practice for the Emergencies
“Captain “Sully” Sullenberger took off from New York on January 15, 2009, not knowing that his passenger jet would hit a flock of birds at approximately 2,000 feet. He had about 20 seconds to make a decision of where to put down the plane in the middle of New York City with 155 people on board. Miraculously, he landed the US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson between two bridges, and every passenger on the plane survived. Later he said, “Every minute of my career as a pilot was preparation for that one defining moment.”
Commentary:
Recently my wife was at Whole Foods and started a conversation with a woman, Karin Rooney, who had three young children in tow. The women quickly became friends and walked to a park next door where they could continue visiting as the children played. In the course of the conversation, Karin said she had recently authored a book, Sink or Swim: Life After Crash Landing in the Hudson. She said, “I was on US Airways Flight 1549 with my fiancé.” She was alive because her pilot had practiced for the emergencies and acted in a fearless manner. That puts it all in perspective. Everyday she looks at those three little children and is so thankful that her pilot was ready for an emergency. Why? He had practiced for the emergencies. What a great lesson for each of us. The way we handle tough situations could possibly change the destiny of others.