Crew, Passengers Reunite on Anniversary of Splash Landing

Passengers and crew members from US Airways Flight 1549, including Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, reunited today on the anniversary of the splash landing on the Hudson River.

After meeting for breakfast on Park Avenue, about 50 passengers, crew members and the captain held a ceremony on Pier 79 ferry terminal in Manhattan.

They also took a ferry ride on New York Waterway’s Thomas Jefferson, the first ferry to respond to the scene, to toast life at 3:31 p.m. – the exact minute the plane hit the water.

Sullenberger says this is a special day and praised his crew and all those who helped in the rescue effort.

“I think we really are joined together by the importance of what we experienced a year ago,” said the pilot. “It’s given many of us second chances to reconnect with our families and loved ones and re-examine our lives. And it’s great to get so many Christmas cards.”

“This wasn’t the first time I’ve been on a plane that was either about to crash or that crashed, and so the second time around I got to thank Sully for pulling it off,” said a passenger. “Because I couldn’t go for a third time, that’s for sure.”

Among the attending passengers were Laura Zych and Ben Bostic, a couple who started dating six months after the splashdown. They call everyone who was onboard that day family.

“You walk up to them and give them a big hug, and it’s not a quick hug, you hold on,” said Zych.

“It’s hard to find better role models than Captain Sullenberger and First Officer [Jeffrey] Skiles and the rest of the crew,” said Bostic.

At the celebratory breakfast, Governor David Paterson, who coined the phrase “Miracle on the Hudson” to describe the incident, gave well-wishes.

“I would daresay it was the happiest day I have spent or will ever spend as governor,” said Paterson.

“I don’t know if it was a miracle. I would say you chalk it up to great skill set of people who train for the worst case and hope that it never happens,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “The pilot, co-pilot, and all the crew members showed that training really makes a difference.”

But Sullenberger insisted he is just a regular guy.

“This event reminds people that cultivating seemingly ordinary virtues can prepare one to face extraordinary challenges,” he said.

The plane took off from LaGuardia Airport headed for North Carolina, but was disabled after a flock of Canada geese flew into its engines.

All 155 people on board were saved.