Flying terrifies me. I don't like to give up control in general and always feel like I am doing that each time I'm getting on a plane. I don't know the pilots. I don't know the maintenance crew. I don't know the flight tower personnel. I don't understand how a metal tube that weighs 1 million pounds can be sustained in the air and not fall to earth in line with the laws of gravity. Random birds can bring down a plane. And yet I'm supposed to simply trust that I'll get from point A to point B safely.
Tonight, however, I feel a bit safer. Even though the general consensus is that today's US Airways flight from LaGuardia to Charlotte, North Carolina was brought down into the frigid Hudson River by a flock of birds (I don't think it was a flock of seagulls, but one never knows), the pilot and crew managed to get all 155 passengers safely off the plane with no major injuries. I've heard everyone was off the plane in 90 seconds, which is amazing to me, but I can't find it in writing.
The crew and pilot acted heroically.
We truly saw a Miracle on the Hudson today. I feel just a bit safer about flying tonight. Not that I'm going anywhere.
Leaving the world a little better than I found it by sharing my passions and dreams, what inspires me, and maybe you too, and furthering the discussion about how we can listen to our better angels.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Miracle on the Hudson
Labels:
airplanes,
flying,
heroes,
miracles,
US Airways
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1. I hate flying too.
ReplyDelete2. I was was so hoping you'd link it to flock of seaguls the band and you didn't disappoint. you're too awesome.
Thanks! I kinda hemmed & hawed about that link. I mean, on the one hand, it was a really serious accident yesterday and all those people could have died. Luckily, no one did. On the other hand, it was just too good to pass up not to post to Flock of Seagulls. I mean, how often are we handed that opportunity?
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