Latest news with #Chesley'Sully'Sullenberger
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Top 10 air crashes caught on camera: 9/11 shocker to Captain Sully facing geese attack
Ten plane crashes caught on camera: In the age of ubiquitous cameras, from dashcams to smartphones, some of the most harrowing moments in aviation history have been caught on video. Bystanders, passengers, or surveillance systems trying to capture something completely unrelated have ended up documenting these plane crashes with chilling clarity. From the global shock of 9/11 to the military jet collision, this article explores notable crashes caught on camera, detailing the events, who recorded them, and their lasting impact. During the 9/11 attacks, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, and one hit the Pentagon. News broadcasts, bystander videos, and a Pentagon security camera captured the impacts. Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania, was not filmed. The attacks, orchestrated by al-Qaeda, remain the deadliest terrorist incident in history with a total of 2,996 people killed in a single day. Below is a video of the North Tower being hit, captured by Jules Naudet, a documentary filmmaker who was profiling New York's Fire Department. Known as the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' the plane struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, causing both engines to fail. Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles glided the plane to a safe water landing in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew survived. The medical transport plane crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, likely due to engine failure. Footage shows the plane descending rapidly, striking a home, and causing a fireball. The crash sparked a fire that damaged nearby properties, though the affected home was unoccupied. All 6 on board, including a pediatric patient and medical staff and 1 on the ground died. The plane overran the runway at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport in snowy conditions, crashing onto a highway. A car dashcam on the M3 highway recorded the aircraft breaking apart, with debris hitting the vehicle. All eight crew members were killed. A US Airforce plane crashed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, during an Arctic Thunder Air Show practice, killing all four crew video, released by the military, cuts off seconds before impact, showing the plane diving behind trees followed by black smoke. The cargo plane, departing from Puerto Carreño, Colombia, struggled during takeoff, hitting a fence and trees before crashing into a forest. Onlooker footage captured the plane barely clearing the runway and dipping out of sight. All six crew members survived, though the pilot was injured. The flight from Bangkok crash-landed at Muan International Airport at 9:03 a.m. after a reported bird strike and failed landing attempt. 179 people died, while 2 crew members survived. A midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington DC was recorded by surveillance cameras at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Clips showed the helicopter striking the jet, causing a fireball. All 64 on the jet and 3 on the helicopter were killed.
The Print
12 hours ago
- General
- The Print
What could have gone wrong? A pilot & an ex-crew member reflect on AI 171 crash & rules of takeoff
'It is unusual for a jet to face issues seconds after takeoff when it has maximum power and full fuel,' the 27-year-old IndiGo pilot told ThePrint on the condition of anonymity. New Delhi: A first pilot with IndiGo recalled feeling 'shocked' and 'perplexed' as she watched the video of Air India Flight 171 crashing into a hostel building, which housed medical students, on the screen. She said she believed either a bird strike or the failure of both engines of the plane led to the crash, while emphasising that only a thorough probe and black box analysis could uncover the truth behind the tragedy. Only one passenger survived, whereas 241 others on board lost their lives, according to a statement issued by Air India. The incident also left several students of BG Medical College and Civil Hospital dead when the plane made an impact. While speculation about what could have gone wrong seconds after AI 171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been circulating, there has so far been no confirmation on why the aircraft nosedived soon after lifting off from the runway. The black box, however, was retrieved Friday. Discussing her theory, the IndiGo pilot said, 'Every airport has a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen),' adding that it included 'expected bird activity' for the Ahmedabad airport. 'The Ahmedabad airport is known for its high number of bird activities.' The NOTAM at an airport refers to a critical piece of information used to alert pilots and other aviation personnel of temporary changes or hazards that could affect flight operations. Such notices are essential for ensuring safety and efficiency in the air. Explaining why she thought it could also be a double-engine failure, the pilot who flies Airbus A320 told ThePrint that mandatory refresher training for pilots on managing single-engine failure takes place every six months. However, she added, a double-engine failure is far more challenging. While noting that a pilot now can manage a double-engine failure mid-air, thanks to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), she maintained that it can be complex. 'In a double-engine failure mid-air, an aeroplane does not just plummet but glides. The APU provides power for essential systems such as electrical and hydraulic operations, as well as bleeds air, which allows engine restart attempts,' she explained. The Netflix film Sully famously depicted this particular scenario. It tells the true story of the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River and Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, the pilot who saved the day. In that case, the Airbus A320 crash-landed in the river shortly after takeoff, and despite zero fatalities, the captain faced intense scrutiny, along with sudden fame. Explaining the present case, the IndiGo pilot said, 'The Air India aircraft collapsed moments after takeoff. The reaction time for the pilots was minimal—you have to pull the landing gear up, retract flaps, and change the frequency.' Also Read: 'Saw huge blast, sky still black.' Eyewitness on Air India flight crashing into civil hospital hostel Checks before takeoff Lapses in pre-departure checks or communication are among the early speculations on what could have caused the AI 171 crash. However, a former IndiGo crew member cautioned, 'In aviation, it is rarely a single factor. More often, it is a chain of small oversights that culminate in a major event.' Leading the content team at a marketing firm now, the ex-IndiGo crew member emphasised it was not always about negligence and that sometimes, the pressure to be quick could make things go wrong. 'To be honest, the pressure to maintain on-time performance is real. Under pressure, some checks can feel routine. And yes, there is a possibility that certain things get taken for granted.' 'The clock can sometimes overshadow caution,' she added. Having flown on the Airbus A320 in the course of her short stint in the air, she stressed that emergency training for cabin crew is more than a one-time lesson—it is an ongoing exercise. 'It does not end after initial training. There are annual refresher courses, where crew members are tested on practical drills, not just theory,' she added. Recounting the pre-flight procedures, she described how the ground staff first inspected the aircraft exterior, looking for leaks, damage, proper fueling, and secure cargo. 'Then, pilots run through an exhaustive cockpit checklist—navigation systems, weather conditions, brakes, hydraulics, fuel levels. No lever or warning light goes unchecked,' she said. The cabin crew follow rigorous routines, verifying emergency equipment, checking exit doors, testing lighting systems, inspecting lavatories, ensuring smoke detectors are active, and confirming they have stocked all supplies, among other functions. 'During an emergency, the crew are not just attendants—they become leaders, responders, and protectors. They have seconds to make decisions, and those decisions can mean everything. Behind those calm faces and crisp uniforms are those who have practised walking through fire, literally,' she said. The IndiGo pilot quoted earlier echoed her sentiments, saying the crew members and pilots have to follow all procedures meticulously all the time. She also highlighted that pilots can't always detect engine issues on the ground. After every flight, the pilot and co-pilot are supposed to document any abnormal activity or issues they noticed during flight. 'Then, it is the responsibility of the engineer to address these reports before the plane takes off again,' she explained. Reflecting on the Ahmedabad crash, the ex-crew member called it a stark reminder that in aviation, there is no room for assumptions. 'The sky can get heavy sometimes. And the rules in the airspace are written in blood. Therefore, every step, every inspection, every protocol exists because, at some point, it saved lives, or could have.' (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: She was all set to fly to London on Air India flight 171. A traffic jam saved her life
Time of India
18 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Dual-engine failure or human error? Pilots on edge over cause
Kolkata: Experienced pilots, awaiting investigation results of the Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, suggest two possible causes: an extremely rare simultaneous engine failure or incorrect cockpit response during an emergency, after eliminating other scenarios. "What is clear from the visuals, especially the airport CCTV footage, is that the aircraft took off normally before experiencing a loss of lift possibly due to loss of thrust on both engines. This can happen only if both engines stall," said an Air India captain, adding the sound of the plane from an amateur video suggested the whine of a Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup power source deployed automatically in the B-787 aircraft when it detects loss of both engines. The captain explained the B-787's sophisticated, multiple backup systems made engine stalling due to electrical or software issues unlikely. The auxiliary power unit can be activated. Fuel contamination is unlikely during take-off when fuel flow is maximum. Also planes have dual independent fuel systems and cross-feed capabilities. An IndiGo veteran dismissed incorrect flap and slat deployment or landing gear retraction issues as causes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo "Any of this would have caused a drag but not caused the aircraft to fall off the sky. In any case, there will be alerts if there is an incorrect setting for pilots to take corrective measures," the pilot said. Pilots dismissed bird strikes, noting no visible large bird flocks in CCTV footage. "The US Airways flight had run into a flock of Canada geese that got sucked into both engines and caused them to stall. The plane captained by Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger had touched down on the Hudson river. This did not happen in Ahmedabad as there was no fire visible or smoke trail from the engine visible in the video footage," a retired AI pilot said. Dismissing sabotage theories, commercial pilots proposed a scenario, where one engine's failure during take-off led to incorrect cockpit actions, resulting in thrust loss in both engines. "A pilot of an IndiGo flight, which was next to the Ahmedabad runway, reported a loud bang to the ATC around V1. The V1 is the take-off decision speed after which a pilot can no longer stop the aircraft but must continue with the take-off. A compressor stall could have taken out one engine. Or it could have been some other reason. After take-off, the plane climbed on the second engine. The pilot usually reports the engine loss to the ATC, turns around and lands. From the visuals, we know the plane encountered a sudden loss of lift during initial climb-out and then started to descend. This could have been due to the thrust lever of the live engine being pulled back that left the plane without any thrust," the pilot said, adding this mistake is not uncommon during simulator training. Another pilot supported this possibility, explaining engine failure procedures during take-off required pilots to take action to secure the failed engine from further damage when the aircraft reached 400 ft. If thrust is pulled back from the live engine, the plane will stall. Quick thrust restoration attempts might be manageable at higher altitudes but could be fatal at 600 ft-800 ft, with not enough time for the engine to spool up and regain thrust with the plane descending at 400 ft-500 ft descent per second. Pilots reminded that what actually transpired in the cockpit and the aircraft would be known only when the Cockpit Voice Data Recorded and the Digital Flight Data Recorder were analysed. A team from the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), US, will assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), along with the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and officials from the aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Helicopter crashes into New York's Hudson River after it ‘split in half' mid-flight
A helicopter has crashed into New York's Hudson River with multiple passengers feared dead. Officials have confirmed they are responding to the incident with the chopper going down at roughly 3:15pm local time today (10 April). A fleet of emergency service vehicles are said to have surrounded both sides of the Hudson River following the shock incident, CBS News said. Reports suggest that the aircraft plummeted into the water near Pier 40 after 'splitting in half' in the air. One witness has since claimed to have watched the helicopter go 'down at a 45-degree angle' before it fell into the Hudson with a 'big splash'. The eyewitness told ABC News it was 'very scary', while another compared the sound of the crash to 'a sonic boom' when speaking to WABC. The man claimed he saw the helicopter 'splitting in two with the rotor flying off'. Concerning footage has been circulating on social media of the incident, appearing to show the wreckage of the helicopter in the water. At least four people are believed to have been travelling on the aircraft, the New York City Fire Department said, according to ABC News. Boat traffic in the Hudson has reportedly ground to a halt as officials assess the situation in the water. The 315-mile river, which flows from north to south, was the site of another shocking accident 16 years ago. On 15 January, 2009, Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger extraordinarily saved the lives everyone onboard while performing an extraordinary landing on the Hudson. He was flying US Airways Flight 1549 when a bird strike caused two engines to fail shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Miraculously, he was able to safely land the Airbus A320 on the river in one piece, saving all 155 passengers and crew on board. More to follow.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sully Sullenberger: ‘A lot' of the technology at Reagan National ‘is old'
Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger said that 'a lot' of the technology at Reagan Washington National Airport 'is old' after two aircraft collided near the airport in Arlington, Va., late Wednesday. According to a Virginia history-centric website, the late 1930s marked the start of National Airport's construction. The airport opened in the early 1940s. 'It hasn't changed much since then,' Sullenberger, a retired pilot and aviation expert, told The New York Times Wednesday. 'Of course, we've added technology to it. But a lot of the technology is old.' On Wednesday night, an Army helicopter and American Airlines flight collided midair near National Airport. Officials have said that they do not anticipate survivors of the Washington metro area crash, and at least 28 bodies had been recovered as of 8 a.m. local time. 'We've had to learn important lessons literally with blood too often, and we had finally gotten beyond that, to where we could learn from incidents, and not accidents,' Sullenburger said, according to the Times. President Trump said the crash 'should have been prevented.' 'The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,' the president posted on Truth Social. 'The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.' 'It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane,' he continued. 'This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!!' The Hill has reached out to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
