Flight 1549 Tapes

Review

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Anyone who watched the fateful landing of Flight 1549 into the Hudson River last January knew that the Flight 1549 tapes would be just as dramatic as the landing itself.

Those who listened to the exchange between Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III and the control tower after their release by the FAA couldnâ€™t help but feel their own heart race as the exhilaration of the moment became even more real through the voices they heard.

If you were not lucky enough to hear the Flight 1549 tapes yourself, here are a few of the highlights:

The Captain alerted the tower at LaGuardia just 2 minutes and 32 seconds after take-off that the plane was in trouble
While the Captainâ€™s voice remained strong and calm he did give the wrong flight number to the tower during his transmission, indicating at least some level of stress
Busy conducting an engine restart checklist, the First officer left all radio control to the Captain
Making two runways available to the plane for an emergency landing, the Captain declined both, opting instead for an emergency water landing in the Hudson River
All 155 passengers aboard the Airbus survived the crash

Nothing less than a miraculous landing, the flight 1549 tapes indicate an extremely well-handled landing by all involved including tower personnel; flight crew and emergency services personnel on the ground and water.