The huge total flight experience among the crew contributed to the successful outcome :
First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours and previously flew as Captain with US Airways.
Flight Attendant Sheila Dail joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.
Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.
Flight Attendant Donna Dent joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.
NTSB PRESS CONFERENCES:
Onboard was one lap child and one toddler.
Since the weight of the airplane full of water was approximately 1 million pounds, it needed to be lifted very gradually to let water drain from the aircraft.
Water depth at impact was 50-55 feet.
A correction to prior information, the right engine is still attached; still looking for the left engine.
ATC communications were read out loud: of particular interest to us was the crew stating, "Cactus 1549 hit birds - lost thrust both engines – turning back to LGA"
TEB airport was discussed, pilots stated, "...we can’t do it..."
Two Flight Attendants were interviewed. They reported hearing loud thuds/thumps and all engine noise ceased, aircraft sounded, "...like a library..."
Captain announced, "brace for impact;" F/A’s yelled, "Brace, Brace, Brace"
Left front slide required manual inflation.
Front exit door, 2’-3’ was above water line.
Although the rear emergency exit door was partially beneath the water. One of the passengers attempted to open it. An alert, experienced flight attendant prevented him from opening the door.
Captain returned to aircraft twice to check for passengers. Captain and each of the crew members were the last to leave the aircraft.
A later press conference :
• 3rd F/A has been released from hospital. Her account : "loud thunk, electrical smell." Tail section experienced a harder landing than further forward. 3rd F/A had no broken bones, but deep lacerations.
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• Captain, 3800 hrs in A-320
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• First Officer, 35 hours in an A-320
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• First Officer was initial PF
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• First Officer stated he saw birds 3-5000’ off to his right
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• Captain looked up & said the windscreen was filled w/big dark brown birds. Said his reaction was to duck
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• Captain smelled burning birds
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• Loss of thrust, Captain, “my aircraft”. First Officer, “your aircraft”. Captain lowered nose because speed had decreased
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• Captain said power loss was symmetrical
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• Captain took over as PF & called for the Dual Engine failure check list
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• Captain said initial plan was to return to LGA. He said he was too slow & too low, it was too populated. Teterboro was too far, populated and would be catastrophic if he didn’t make it. As stated in earlier brief, he stated, "going to be in the Hudson".
• Captain focused on flying
First Officer focused on checklist & re-starting the engines
This checklist was designed to run at FL350
Captain called for flaps 2
Captain made the “brace” call over the P/A
Captain said he had been trained to ditch near a vessel if able, so he tried to land close to a boat
The aircraft lost electrical once in the water
Captain called for Evacuation, F/A’s had already initiated it
Captain stated that, " he could not be more happy that he got everyone off .”
Questioning session :
First Officer saw the birds, noted to himself that they were flying in a line
Emergency Ditching P/B was not activated to shut down various systems. Because its activation was down the checklist on page 3 ; before striking the water they didn't have time to get to page 3.
First Officer, while low time in AB, but typed in other aircraft, glass cockpit, had been a Captain before, IOE was completed.
Captain estimated the aircraft struck the birds between 220 & 250kts
How did F/A get lacerations? Doesn't know. Initialy, she didn’t realize she was hurt. After she sending the passengers up the aisle, she felt the pain and noticed that she was bleeding. |
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