US Airways flight

iheartstuart · January 2009

So, as someone who has a SERIOUS fear of flying, seeing a plane floating in the water because of two birds makes me not want to go on an airplane ever again. ?That pilot did an amazing job!! ?Do you guys think all pilots would have handled that as well? ?

FutureMrsLynch · January 2009

I fly a lot, but it still scares the pants off me. Sadly no, I do not think all pilots would have done as well...

JRS72206 · January 2009

I also fly a few times a year but hate it. Every single time I fly I'm convinced its my last moments on earth. The pilot did an awesome job! I'm amazed that everyone lived.

indigo91804 · January 2009

Take more xanax!! Every time I see something like that it makes me never want to fly...EVER!! It was taken down by a flock of birds for pete sake. But I can usually talk myself into getting on the plane considering where I am usually going is way more fun than sitting home. I completely understand you, though!

JRS72206 · January 2009

Oh and like Indigo said...A plane going down cause of a bird? That's crazy. Now I'm gonna be on bird watch when I fly. geez.

iheartstuart · January 2009

Aahh, xanax is my best friend when I fly. ?But I take quite a bit more than the recommended dose. ?

sunmountain · January 2009

My dad is a pilot. They are all trained to handle those situations, but there is no saying how each pilot would have handled it but there IS a procedure. There are checklists for "landing" a plane on water. People think it cannot be done but clearly, it can. This was a VERY experienced pilot with a military background and personally, the best kind of pilot you can have in these situations and military vetrans are prevalent in the airline industry. My dad included. This scenario with 2 engines failing is really rare and flying in and out of Seattle is one of the better airports for bird control as well. They have a bird radar to track flocks and keep them away. Anyway, just know that pilots are trained for these situations and go into recurrent training sometimes up to twice a year to keep them practiced on all emergency procedures.

Mama_v2.0 · January 2009

Chance of dying in a car crash 1:83, Chance of dying from a plane crash 1:5000...let me put it this way...you have a higher chance of dying almost any other way, except being struck by lightening.

scarletii · January 2009

I guess I figure if it's my time to go, it's my time. Something like this isn't going to keep me up at night, or prevent me from living my life and flying to great places!

Nancy_Drew · January 2009

I fly ALOT for work, and this week I had a flight. My poor Mom gets freaked out. Even this incident was in NY and I was in Salt Lake City, she thinks it was my plane.

I do always say a little parayer on take off. Take off's are the worst I think. I picture the plane just flopping back to the ground. Once take off is over, no problem. I do like take off's in little jets MUCH better. 100x faster so I don't have the falling back to earth feeling.

MsGirl1 · January 2009

I'm already trying to figure out how to get out of flying later this year! I HATE flying! I was on a plane Sept. 11th and have been terrified ever since. I hate the fact that me and DH's families all live across the country!

I wish I never had to fly again!?

jeffrae · January 2009

What that pilot did was textbook for 'ditching' the plane (landing in a field or body of water). Many pilots who try to ditch the airplane and are unsuccessful usually did not do it textbook or had other factors against them. I have to say -- the pilot did the best he could and the airplane did the best it could (not break apart).

When birds hit the engines when the airplane if flying -- it is like a couple tons of force tearing through the engine due to the speed and weight (of the aircraft and the bird). Jet engines, windshields are both tested with (dead) frozen birds to ensure they can withstand impact. This was a very unfortunate incident which does not happen often.

I have been on a couple of flights with bird strikes, but they were smaller birds and did just a small amount of damage. Most of the birds in the Seattle area are not as dangerous as they are around the rest of the country.

Regardless -- that pilot did an amazing job and will be known as a hero for the rest of his life. Rightfully so.

Want a personalized experience?

US Airways flight

Re: US Airways flight

Choose Another Board

Search Boards