It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger executed the extraordinary emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, an event that has since been immortalized as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” The audio from that fateful cockpit still sends chills down the spine, capturing the tension and urgency of those critical moments.
On January 15, 2009, the flight encountered disaster when it struck a flock of Canadian geese shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of thrust in both engines. Realizing he couldn’t return to LaGuardia Airport, Sullenberger, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, made the split-second decision to land in the Hudson River, ultimately saving all 155 lives on board.
The cockpit audio reveals the gravity of the situation. “This is Cactus 1549. Hit birds. We’ve lost thrust in both engines. We’re turning back to LaGuardia,” Sullenberger calmly informs air traffic control. When the controller suggests landing at nearby Teterboro Airport, Sullenberger responds with a stark realization: “We can’t do it. We’re gonna be in the Hudson.” The recording ends with the haunting line, “Cactus 1549, radar contact is lost.”
In another chilling recording, the urgency of the situation is evident as the air traffic controller calls for emergency services, saying, “Get me a police department helicopter . . . right now. We had a cactus Airbus go down in the water.”
Now 67, Sullenberger has become a symbol of heroism and calm under pressure. Initially, he struggled with the label of “hero.” In a 2016 interview, he reflected, “I resisted the H word initially. But I certainly have grown to understand people’s need to feel the way they feel about this event and, by extension, about me.”
Sullenberger maintains connections with many of the passengers he saved, emphasizing the collective effort that made the successful landing possible. “I never had any extraneous thoughts in those few seconds. I didn’t allow myself to and I didn’t have any inclination to,” he said on the tenth anniversary. “I think about not only what we did but what everybody else did. All the pieces had to come together.”
The legacy of that day remains powerful, reminding us of the incredible human spirit and the importance of teamwork in the face of adversity. We will never forget what Sullenberger accomplished ten years ago. If you’d like to hear the cockpit call for yourself, it’s available below.