I would like to share this very important email of Gerry McNemaras and his experience on flight 1549
Subject: More on Flight 1549
US Air 1549
This is from a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles who was on Flight 1549.
As many of you now know, Gerry McNamara (New York/Charlotte)
was on US Airways Flight 1549 last week. We caught up with him to discuss
the harrowing incident and - in a departure from our usual format -
present his stirring account as told to us:
Thursday was a difficult day for all of us at the firm and I
left the Park Avenue office early afternoon to catch a cab bound for
LaGuardia Airport .
I was scheduled for a 5 pm departure, but able to secure a seat
on the earlier flight scheduled to leave at 3 pm. As many of us who fly
frequently often do, I recall wondering if I'd just placed
myself on a flight I shouldn't be on!
Just prior to boarding I finished up a conference call with my
associate, Jenn Sparks ( New York ), and our placement, the CIO
of United Airlines. When I told him that I was about to board a US
Airways flight, we all had a little fun with it.
I remember walking on the plane and seeing a fellow with grey
hair in the cockpit and thinking "that's a good thing... I like to see
grey hair in the cockpit!"
I was seated in 8F, on the starboard side window and next to a
young business man. The New York to Charlotte flight is one I've
taken what seems like hundreds of times over the years. We take off north
over the Bronx and as we climb, turn west over the Hudson River to
New Jersey and tack south.20I love to fly, always have, and this
flight plan gives a great view of several NY landmarks including
Yankee Stadium and the George Washington Bridge .
I had started to point out items of interest to the gentleman
next to me when we heard a terrible crash - a sound no one ever wants
to hear while flying - and then the engines wound down to a screeching
halt, 10 seconds later, there was a strong smell of jet fuel. I knew
we would be landing and thought the pilot would take us down no
doubt to Newark Airport . As we began to turn south I noticed the pilot
lining up on the river still - I thought - en route for Newark .
Next thing we heard was "Brace for impact!" - a phrase I had
heard many years before as an active duty Marine Officer but never
before on a commercial air flight. Click for more
Everyone looked at each other in shock. It all happened so fast
we were astonished!
We began to descend rapidly and it started to sink in. This is
the last flight. I'm going to die today. This is it. I recited my
favorite bible verse, the Lord's Prayer, and asked God to take care of
my wife, children, family and friends.
When I raised my head I noticed people texting their friends
and family.getting off a last message. My blackberry was turned
off and in my trouser pocketno time to get at it. Our descent
continued and I prayed for courage to control my fear and help if able.
I quickly realized that one of two things was going to happen,
neither of them good. We could hit by the nose, flip and break up,
leaving few if any survivors, bodies, cold water, fuel. Or we could hit one
of the wings and roll and flip with the same result. I tightened my
seat belt as tight as I could possibly get it so I would remain intact.
As we came in for the landing, I looked out the windows and
remember seeing the buildings in New Jersey , the cliffs in Weehawken ,
and then the piers. The water was dark green and sure to be freezing
cold. The stewardesses were yelling in unison "Brace! Brace! Brace!"
It was a violent hit - the water flew up over my window - but
we bobbed up and were all amazed that we remained intact.
There was some panic - people jumping over seats and running
towards the doors, but we soon got everyone straightened out and calmed
down. There were a lot of people that took leadership roles in little
ways. Those sitting at the doors over the wing did a fantastic
jobthey were opened in a New York second! Everyone worked together - teamed
up and in groups to figure out how to help each other.
I exited on the starboard side of the plane, 3 or 4 rows behind
my seat through a door over the wing and was, I believe, the 10th
or 12th person out. I took my seat cushion as a flotation device and
once outside saw I was the only one who did=E 2.none of us remembered
to take the yellow inflatable life vests from under the seat.
We were standing in 6-8 inches of water and it was freezing.
There were two women on the wing, one of whom slipped off into the
water. Another passenger and I pulled her back on and had her kneel
down to keep from falling off again. By that point we were totally
soaked and absolutely frozen from the icy wind.
The ferries were the first to arrive, and although they're not
made for rescue, they did an incredible job. I know this river,
having swum in it as a boy. The Hudson is an estuary - part salt and part
fresh water - and moves with the tide. I could tell the tide was
moving out because we were tacking slowly south towards Ellis Island , The
Statue of Liberty , and The Battery ..
The first ferry boat pulled its bow up to the tip of the wing,
and the first mate lowered the Jacobs ladder down to us. We got a
couple people up the ladder to safety, but the current was strong
pushing the stern of the boat into the inflatable slide and we were afraid
it would puncture itthere must have been 25 passengers in it by
now. Only two or three were able to board the first ferry before it
moved away.
Another ferry came up, and we were able to get the woman that
had fallen into the water on the ladder, but she just couldn't move
her legs and fell off. Back onto the ladder she went; however, the
ferry had to back away because of the swift current. A helicopter
arrived on station (nearly blowing us all off the wing) and followed the
ferry with the woman on the ladder. We lost view of the situation but
I believe the helicopter lowered its basket to rescue her.
As more ferries arrived, we were able to get people up on the
boats a few at a time. The fellow in front of me fell off the ladder
and into the water. When we got him back on the ladder he could not move
his legs to climb. I couldn't help him from my position so I
climbed up the ladder to the ferry deck where the first mate and I hoisted
the Jacobs ladder with him on itwhen he got close enough we
grabbed his trouser belt and hauled him on deck. We were all safely off the
wing.
We could not stop shaking. Uncontrollable shaking. The only
thing I had with me was my blackberry, which had gotten wet and was not
working. (It started working again a few hours later).
The ferry took us to the Weehawken Terminal in NJ where I
borrowed a phone and called my wife to let her know I was okay. The second
call I made was to Jenn. I knew she would be worried about me and
could communicate to the rest of the firm that I was fine. At the
terminal, first responders assessed everyone's condition and sent people
to the hospital as needed. As we pulled out of Weehawken my history
kicked in and I recall it was the site of the famous duel between
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. Thankfully I left town in
better condition than Mr. Hamilton who died of a m ortal wound the next
day! I stayed with my sister on Long Island that evening, then flew
home the next day.
I am struck by what was truly a miracle. Had this happened a
few hours later, it would have been pitch dark and much harder to land.
Ferries would no longer have been running after rush hour and it would
not have been the same uplifting story. Surely there would have
been fatalities, hypothermia, an absolute disaster!
I witnessed the best of humanity that day. I and everyone on
that plane survived and have been given a second chance. It struck
me that in our work we continuously seek excellence to solve our
client's leadership problems. We talk to clients all the time about the
importance of experience and the ability to execute. Experience
showed up big time on Flight 1549 as our pilot was a dedicated,
trained, experienced professional who executed flawlessly when he had
to.
I have received scores of emails from across the firm and I am
so grateful for the outpouring of interest and concern. We all fly
a great deal or work with someone who does and so I wanted to
share this story - the story of a miracle. I am thankful to be here to
tell the tale.
There is a great deal to be learned including: Why has this
happened to me? Why have I survived and what am I supposed to do with
this gift? For me, the answers to these questions and more will come< /font>
over time, but already I find myself being more patient and
forgiving, less critical and judgmental.
For now I have 4 lessons I would like to share:
1. Cherish your families as never before and go to great
lengths to keep your promises.
2. Be thankful and grateful for everything you have and
don't worry about the things you don't have.
0A
3. Keep in shape. You never know when you'll be called
upon to save your own life, or help someone else save theirs.
4. When you fly, wear practical clothing. You never know
when you'll end up in an emergency or on an icy wing in flip flops and
pajamas and of absolutely no use to yourself or anyone else.
Thanks to all who have reached out I look forward to seeing
you soon!
|