Off The Record
Captain Sully, Who Famously Landed A Passenger Plane On The Hudson River Has Shared A Chilling Theory
When I saw the headline, “Hero pilot Captain Sully shares terrifying theory on why DC plane crash happened,” I almost dropped my phone.
Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the man who memorably landed a passenger jet on the Hudson River in 2009 and saved 155 lives, is the person whose opinion I trust the most when it comes to aviation tragedies.
This time, Sully is worried about nighttime flights over water, which he believes may have contributed to the recent collision close to Washington, D.C.
Night Flight Complications
Sully speculated that flying over a dark body of water may have contributed to the tragedy that claimed 67 people. He pointed out that it can be considerably more difficult to identify other aircraft at night when there are fewer ground lights reflecting off the sea.
As he explained, “All you can see are the lights on them,” which makes determining relative altitude and distance incredibly challenging.
Although some may wonder if an air traffic controller should have intervened, Sully notes that the controller can temporarily delegate separation responsibilities to the pilots if they make eye contact with one another.
Unfortunately, a terrible event went wrong.
Hero Pilot Captain Sully Shares Terrifying Theory on Why DC Plane Crash Happened
Additionally, Sully reaffirmed on Good Morning America that at least one pilot maintained visual contact but failed to maintain the necessary distance for a safe flying path.
In Sully’s words, it’s like “dominoes lined up the wrong way” when those final lines of defense fall. Any minor mistake might have disastrous consequences when flying at night.
Every airline and pilot should reevaluate their procedures in light of Hero pilot Captain Sully’s horrifying idea of the cause of the DC plane disaster, particularly in the vicinity of crowded airports like Reagan National, which are infamous for their short runways and close proximity to aircraft.
Runway Pressures and Staffing Challenges
Staffing in the Reagan National Airport control tower is one issue that has arisen as a result of the incident.
According to some stories, the controller in charge of helicopter guidance close to DCA was also in charge of arrivals and departures.
Sully also pointed out that pilots require specific training to operate safely at DC’s airport due to its short runways and close proximity to other airfields.
It’s simple to understand how the scenario for a midair collision could unfold when you combine these complications with ongoing understaffing.
Hero Pilot Captain Sully Shares Terrifying Theory on Why DC Plane Crash Happened… and Why It Must Be Addressed
There is some hope that the last few minutes before the accident might be cobbled together now that investigators have found the black boxes from the submerged wreckage in the Potomac River.
According to an early account, the tower was overburdened, with the same individual speaking to pilots of both helicopters and airplanes. Sully’s warning emphasizes how the ideal storm would have been created by nighttime flying, lake reflections, and potential crew shortages.
I can’t help but assume that if Hero pilot Captain Sully is alarmed by these circumstances, then we should all be listening when he gives his horrifying idea about why the DC aircraft tragedy occurred.
Lessons from the Miracle on the Hudson
By this point, Sully’s story is essentially legendary.
Everyone on board was miraculously spared when he made a safe water landing on the Hudson River in 2009 after his plane lost both of its engines due to a bird strike.
Since then, he has been an outspoken supporter of comprehensive incident investigations, pilot training, and safety reforms.
Perhaps similar tragedies can be avoided if the aviation community takes his cautions regarding the tragic incident in D.C. seriously.
But as Sully puts it, “Any lapse could potentially be fatal, even though we have a lot of safety.”
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