Air traffic controller reflects on 10 years since 'Miracle on the Hudson'

On Jan. 15, 2009, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 collided with birds just moments after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger made the decision to land his flight on the Hudson River after the engines were knocked out by a bird strike. Sully was hailed a hero for saving all 155 people on board.
Patrick Harten says it was near the beginning of his shift as an air traffic controller based in Westbury when he got the radio call he will never forget. He says he heard Sully say, "Hit bird strike - lost thrust."
FULL STORY: longisland.news...

[@sharonmullins1957]

No one appreciates the stress that ATC go through their entire shift. Thank you for the job you do.

[@thomasdaily4363]

"No one" is a pretty broad statement. Some of us do.

[@drumboarder1]

No one does, so you don't.. You're a terrible person

[@mariagrant3706]

I've work with ATC in Australia- not as a controller but worked closely with them- understand what you are trying to say Sharon 👍🏿🇦🇺

[@nillyk5671]

Could rephrase that as "not many".

[@content6032]

loved his answer at the end "it wasnt a miracle it was everyone doing their job correctly"

[@Tang0Fox1]

Um...why does this not qualify for a miracle. Every system fit together perfectly. The odds are tremendous so I don't think it strange to use the word miracle.

[@Davidshonfield]

Patrick Harten - what a great guy, and what an obviously good person, like Sully and Jeff Skiles and Donna Dent, Sheila Dail and Doreen Welsh. Inspiring people all of them - just like those who rescued the passengers and crew from the freezing water. A wonderful combined effort.

[@Sheila612Miller]

We can come together in a time of crisis, it would be nice if we could do that everyday. A statement I have never heard so well said.

[@nillyk5671]

Awwe him. His voice started changing, he started speaking faster but he was so quick, engaged and helpful. You could hear him doing his best.

[@TangoDelta8111]

New York as a whole did themselves proud that day. So many people stepped up, not knowing their abilities would be called on so unexpectedly. Too many to mention here, but I do hope they all were acknowledged at some point. As a Canadian, I’m proud of all their efforts, and I bet the world is too. Well Done!❤

[@1jackvalley580]

Patrick: You did such an amazing job during the 1549 Cactus flight to help bring it to safety. You kept very calm, and your thinking and decision making was quick and accurate. Thank you for doing such a great job, and a lot of people are very grateful to have you as an ace air traffic controller. God Bless🌟

[@halo4575]

Much respect to this guy👏👏👏👏👏

[@mikelavallee2497]

When it hits the fan it’s easy to tell the pros from the amateurs. This guy, as well as many others, were very cool cats under intense circumstances.

[@davidg.9561]

Absolutely. Sully described it as tunnel vision, which I think is incredibly accurate. I work in health care, and I know law enforcement and other first responders experience the same thing. In a high stress, life-or-death situation, your mind reverts back to its training. You have a singular goal and all the other "noise" gets blocked out. It isn't until the crisis is over that you really feel what happened and start going through all the what-if scenarios and performance reflection.

[@karenford5642]

Well said,each time I see or read something about this I still find it unbelievable Those passengers are beyond lucky

[@cobrakai3732]

Couldn't they get a better interviewer? "Were you panicking?" like... maybe be a little more thoughtful instead of asking the same play-by-play questions that Mr. Harten answered over 10 years ago before Congress and in other interviews. Mr. Harten deserves a better conversation.

[@dirkditmer453]

As a very frequent traveler my entire life (Army brat traveling the world and working from Panama to Alaska, 9 states, 2 countries and a territory in one year), I spend a LOT of time on airplanes. I've also spent a lot of time in cockpits of small aircraft. My respect for ATCs is incredible. When you are in the air, whether as a private pilot, an airline pilot with 200 souls depending on you, OR being one of those 200 souls, those ATCs have your back. I've been on commercial flights that have pulled odd maneuvers and sudden "fly arounds" (whatever), and heard the passengers around me upset. My thoughts are always for 1) For the pilot and flight crew, 2) That Controller. Somebody, somewhere has a load of shit on their hands, and I wish them luck. Then I tell th passengers bitching around me to shut the hell up. Hats off, much respect to every ATC out there, and thank you

[@chiefsnarlsnortz1610]

Air Force Brat, 3 states 2 times plus 1 more and Japan & Germany! Then USCG, Retired, CA 2 TIMES, 5 States, 4 diff ships, 7 years at sea! Smaller scale ATC trained. 4 states since retirement, MO only match to a job in the CG! Whew, you nailed it! Be nice to know miles flown, Lol 😂 ! No state matches in the 2 services.

[@josefinajoisey]

As he said, “everyone did their job”, but the fallout can be emotional devastation.

[@laurawilliams5363]

Patrick Harten did an incredible job by doing all that he could for 1549. All in the tower that supported and offered assistance, thank you. I can't believe we are in the 11 yr since this happened. Without the ATC, the flight staff, passengers that listened and followed instructions, the ferry services, this miracle wouldn't be. Thank you to all of you.

[@thesisypheanjournal1271]

People don't realize that it still totally messes with your head even when there's a good outcome. When I was an EMT our ambulance pulled up at just a horrible crash, car totally torn in half. I was new on the job and I was thinking, "Okay, this is going to be my first mangled body. I don't know how bad it's going to be. I can't remember where we keep the body bags. I wonder if I'm going to be able to handle it. Here it comes -- the big test: Can I cope or not?" And I got out of the ambulance and the victim is sitting by the side of the road perfectly okay except for a skinned knee. I went home and just paced up and down, repeating, "That kid should be dead. I mean, I'm glad he's okay, but there's no way he could be okay. That kid should be dead." It was a small town and all the crashed vehicles got towed to the same yard and this car became a minor tourist attraction for a few days, people driving by to see it. I took my daughter to see it. But it was probably about a week before I came out of the shocked disbelief. "That kid should be dead." Sometimes I still find myself going back to that day, to the absolute shock of the kid not being dead.

[@brenttesterman1198]

I hear you loud and clear! I performed CPR on an acquaintance of mine, that I found in full arrest. I had to work on him for around 10 minutes straight until I could get a pulse and he started breathing on his own. I've been certified for decades but, this was the first time I had to use chest compressions. It was completely exhausting and it seriously messed with my head for a couple of years.

[@Bobo-th1tu]

Thanks for sharing. I didn't understand why he had such trouble when everyone survived. Your story helped me understand.

[@karenford5642]

It'God plan ,saving him and you for other things

[@pavelhristov361]

What an awesome dude!!! So nice, grounded, warm hearted and humble! Considering he was maybe the only "victim" of this accident, being the only one who thought for several minutes he had just participated in a major air crash with no one surviving... And couldn't do anything to prevent it. Probably that's the reason he's aged so much, in the hearing video he looked really young.. But still smiles so happy!🌞 Hats off to that guy! A true professional and a wonderful human being! He's just so cool!⭐

[@nillyk5671]

It must be the stress of the job and his genes. Also it's been 10 years...

[@ritaj7080]

This guy is soo likeable and funny ..really great Guy you Can see it in his eyes ..Hope the best for him

[@GrumpyYank26]

The idea that he doubted himself. Darn.

[@kenbrownfield6584]

Good job ATC !!!

[@kevinsmoother]

What a hero

[@GrumpyYank26]

Such an intense experience. Good work. So hard to understand what it like to recover from this kind of experience. Respect.

[@Hangnailer47]

5:50 Dude how messed up would it have been if his friend did go down and tell him that everyone survived when nobody or even 1 or more people didn’t.

[@PInk77W1]

Yeah. Not something people joke about

[@RealLifeHeroes7]

would be hard to call that guy a friend in that case. just my opinion.

[@publicanimal]

@@PInk77W1 The point is he found it that hard to believe that the outcome was so incredibly positive.

[@Raindropsinvalencia]

This is my favorite account of what happened.

[@rondifrankel]

"Everyone doing their job correctly that day". Wisdom for the ages.

[@Afrocanuk]

Its rear, but Canada Geese can also be a traffic hazard. If you're driving along & you happen to meet up with them crossing in front of you, they continue to take their time crossing. They will not speed up & get out of the way. It is you that have to stop & wait.

[@motherofthreeb6337]

It was not time for any of the passengers or crew members to depart this world!

[@karenford5642]

Luckily they had a pilot who flew gliders as a hobby!!!

[@CapeHatteras99]

People like this, is what makes U.S. great.

[@danielplainview4778]

Seems like a good dude

[@suzannetodaro5494]

I stopped watching at 1:18 as the female interviewer seemed clueless. Asking about an afternoon flight when it was an early morning one, then saying that it is "all on the ATC". Like they can pull a runway magically out of their hat. This man was very professional I have heard the voice recording and seen many documentaries so he is NOT to blame. Everyone, both on the plane, in the control tower and the first responders where outstanding.

[@SlantAlphaAdventures]

I agree with you a bit about the absurdity of a few of the questions, but, aviation is a pretty specialized field and a lot of people just don't know the intricacies. I'm sure it's hard to believe that there aren't preventative measures in place to prevent planes from hitting birds, given that major incidents from birdstrikes like this are so rare. On the other hand, check your recollection about the time of day. The plane departed LaGuardia at 3pm.

[@pavelhristov361]

Honey, it was exactly an afternoon flight - they took off at 3:26 pm and came down at 3:31 pm!! Do your homework before making one of those dull comments! The interviewer is not clueless, she just asks questions - sometimes a question one of us wouldn't ask, but there are certainly other viewers, who would ask such question! That's the job of an interviewing journalist - asking and finding out information for as many people as possible.

[@andij605]

I agree that some of the questions were weird, but it WAS an afternoon flight.

[@A_nony_mous]

While the flight was early in his shift, it was an afternoon flight.

[@kenbrownfield6584]

Good vid Patrick !

[@gregroberts6201]

GREAT JOB ATC . LGA GREAT JOB CAPT. SULLY & CREW . RETIRED CAPT. B737 B727 B747 FLOWN IN TO EWR. LGA JFK. CAPT. GREG ROBERTS BAHAMAS.

[@kathyyoung1774]

Good guy!

[@helenewebster9462]

I had to surpress my emotions, Mom's endangerment, and fears etc.

[@TheFarmanimalfriend]

If the plane had been 727 with the three engines in the rear, the plane, very likely, would not have crashed. The intake for the #2 engine is on top of the fuselage so is protected from ingesting birds. Three engine planes cost more in maintenance and don't get as good of mileage, but the intake of the #2 engine is shielded by the fuselage. I would rather pay more and not fly as often to not worry about bird strikes to fly on a jet with three engines.

[@ThatRomyKate]

True, but then it sounds like the chances of losing both engines due to bird strike is a one in a lifetime event

[@nillyk5671]

9:45 lmao he is so cute!

[@nickinurse6433]

Terrible interviewer....she cant seem to finish her questions....or.... she tries to answer for him

[@robramsay5782]

From Edinburgh Scotland genius

[@MikeD-ne6ie]

Jesus Christ was in charge that day, as He is everyday. Thank you Lord 🙏!

[@markbergthold6181]

Good interview! I’d say that everyone doing their job right is a miracle in itself!

[@GH-oi2jf]

Mark Bergthold - I would say it is just statistics.

[@Jiu-Jitsu-Robot]

That’s it. That’s the miracle.

[@darcyswanson7287]

This guy is just so smart and focused. Hugs to you sweet man fantastic work.

[@karenford5642]

Luckily Scully flew gliders which do not have an engines as a hobby. This was a bigger glider

[@nillyk5671]

I feel like all pilots should learn to do that as part of basic training 😬

[@karenford5642]

@@nillyk5671 my nephew is a new pilot for American Airlines. Took awhile because of the Covid I should ask him if this was part or his training or at least mentioned in his training.

[@msjdb723]

I've loved this guy since the original ATC recording. Glad to see this.

[@PInk77W1]

7:00 “no matter what I can always get a plane back to the runway.” Geese, hold my beer

[@deananderson7877]

Another hero on a day filled with hero’s

[@topherjoe1]

I remember a lonnnngggg time ago I was taken on a tour of air traffic control (Seattle ARTCC in Auburn, Wa)/as part of a " team work and procedural emphasis training "when I worked for Western Airlines. I will never forget it, i I was in such awe of these remarkable people and have much respect for them.

[@shay2218]

What a great guy. Great job! 💜👏🏼👏🏼

[@rockybass9764]

An ordinary American doing an extraordinary thing. That how we roll. Well done Sir.

[@thomasdaily4363]

Orderly exit vs. chaotic exit...depends on where you were sitting in relation to the exit!

[@deborahpaley21]

He's adorable.

[@Luckyluisa791]

This man, he's a hero in this story!!

[@publicanimal]

I don't want to take anything away from him, but that's a stretch since everything was out of his hands and nothing he did mattered at all to the end result. It was all on the crew on the plane.

[@kateelderson]

Patrick Harten sounds like a really great guy. ATC can be a tough job. Thank you!

[@kaptainkaos1202]

What a nice interview.

[@joseenricovillacorte7670]

The questions that were being asked is like crap, sounded stupid and imaginary.

[@yoavsprung1058]

What an amazing guy!!

[@leeroyholloway4277]

This interviewer: Asks every question, followed by "I mean.... same question using different words." ...gawd.

[@alphalunamare]

Brilliant!

[@Kane-ib5sn]

talk about a potential PTSD moment for the ATC averted...

[@A_nony_mous]

Listen again. At 6:55 he states he did have PTSD. The fact of the "happy outcome" doesn't change the trauma of the event.

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Facing difficulties in the air, I wish guys like him are there on the ground. Great guy!

[@kennethbutler1343]

This was new to me; thanks for posting it!

[@helenewebster9462]

What if it happens against❓The scary part it is happening as Malfeasance Standard of Care as a systemic practice.

[@thomasdaily4363]

That's it. Need to issue all birds radar reflectors.

[@johncalvo1743]

Sometimes you just have to wing it.

[@preesi1403]

Hes so cute. He looks like Bernie Taupin

[@Chihuahuauno1]

Dude, he did nothing, the plane eventually crashed, and so, he’s a major-failure!😊

[@andychristoph9836]

What a decent interview. Often interviews like this are full of tedious cliches and hyperbole. This was sensitive and drew out the interesting bits of experience. What a nice guy as well - clear headed and in touch with his feelings.

[@ludix747]

It's 13 years ago now!