Miracle on the Hudson: Firefighter tells of dramatic rescues

One week after the Miracle on the Hudson - the tale of US Airways Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River and every one on board survived - people around the country continue to talk about the stories of heroism and courage that emanated from what could have been a horrific disaster.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, the North Carolina-bound flight, which had taken off just minutes before from LaGuardia Airport, was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River after the plane apparently collided with a flock of geese causing both of the plane’s engines to fail.
US Airways pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger managed to land the aircraft in the middle of the Hudson, and the crew safely evacuated the passengers out of the plane onto its wings as the plane floated in the middle of the river. Within minutes, ferries and rescue boats immediately came to the scene and rescued everyone on board bringing some to area hospitals where they were treated for minor injuries.
“This is a potential tragedy that may have become one of the most magnificent days in the history of New York City agencies,” New York Governor David Paterson said shortly after the incident.
While there may have been no bigger hero than pilot Sullenberger, who received a special invite to President Barack Obama’s Inauguration, many other New Yorkers including New York City Firefighter Thomas “Sully” Sullivan performed heroic actions that afternoon to help ensure the safety of every on board the plane.
As soon as Sullivan and two of his firefighters at Marine Company 1 received information about a plane going down, they took their 27-foot, fast response boat up the Hudson River and arrived at the scene of the crash within five minutes.
“We saw ferryboats evacuating people,” Sullivan told The Queens Courier. “We could see the people out there standing on the wings of the plane.”
Sullivan said they slowly pulled their boat up to the wings of plane, and they began helping the passengers board the fireboat.
“No one was in panic mode, they were all pretty calm,” Sullivan said. “I said, ‘welcome to New York,’ ” he joked.
In total, Sullivan said they took about 20 people onto the boat and brought them to safety on land where other emergency personnel greeted the passengers with blankets and other items to get them warm.
“It was unbelievable to save these people,” Sullivan said. “It was such a heartwarming and amazing feeling.”
While many of the plane’s passengers made the rounds on news shows that night, others came to the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia hotel, who offered their hotel up as a meeting space for passengers and family members who had loved ones on the plane.
The morning after the crash, Mayor Bloomberg and US Airways CEO Doug Parker honored first responders from the city’s fire department including Sullivan, police officers, Port Authority officials and others.
“On behalf of the US Airways family, we are extremely grateful for the way the people of New York City and the surrounding areas pulled together to help the passengers and crew of Flight 1549,” Parker said.
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