Flight team deserves credit

Sat., Jan. 24, 2009

The Spokesman-Review

The excerpt from the Washington Post (Jan. 19) continues a media-slanted view of the Hudson River miracle.

“That everyone got off the plane without life-threatening injury, despite the bone-chilling air and water temperatures, speaks of their pulling together in a time of crisis.”

A plane load of strangers do not save themselves by “pulling together in a time of crisis.” Three flight attendants, using all of their emergency skills, which must be checked, approved and updated on a regular schedule, shepherded all passengers out of the proper exits within a very few minutes to the waiting rescue boats. The passengers were saved by a total team effort: captain, first officer and three flight attendants.

Glenn C. Carlson

Spokane

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