Jeff Skiles: "The Miracle On The Hudson"

On January 15, 2009, 155 people aboard US Airways Flight 1549 left LaGuardia airport but only got as far as the Hudson River in New York City. That’s because not long after takeoff, the airplane struck a flock of Canada geese as it approached the George Washington Bridge. Both engines soon stopped functioning. Sullenberger, formerly a fighter pilot, radioed for help but quickly realized he wouldn’t have time to fly the plane to any nearby airports. Within minutes of “hard-landing” the plane down the middle of the river, the NY Waterway ferries Governor Thomas H. Kean and Thomas Jefferson arrived on the scene to rescue passengers stranded on inflated slides and life rafts.

In this video, the co-pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, Jeffrey Skiles tells the gripping story of the harrowing 208 seconds that followed, and how emotional intelligence saved the day, and all 155 people aboard. He takes audiences into the cockpit during one of the most extraordinary emergency landings in aviation history. As he recounts the sequence of unfortunate events that took place on that harrowing day ten years ago which has been called "The Miracle on the Hudson", he emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork, even in the most challenging circumstances. 

After you watch the video above, visit Jeff's speaker profile to learn more about his expertise and speaking topics and see if he would be a good fit to speak at one of your upcoming events.