Behind the scenes of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’

In 2009, Captain Chesley Sullenberger successfully completed the unimaginable by completing an emergency water landing. As the media flooded with the praises of Captain Sullenberger, little did the world know that the “Miracle on the Hudson” left Sullenberger scarred with PTSD.
“Sully” produced by Clint Eastwood delves into the emotions of Sullenberger, played by Tom Hanks, during the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, investigation of the crash of Flight 1569.
As the movie opens, a fiery explosion rocks the screen as a plane plummets into a highly populated area. Powerful scenes like this depict Sullenberger’s PTSD throughout to help bring understanding to mental trauma the hero would experience. Mental strain further increases for Sullenberger as the NTSB conducts an investigation to determine if the emergency landing unnecessarily jeopardized 155 lives.
“I’ve had 40 years in the air but in the end, I’m going to be judged by 208 seconds,” Sullenberger said.
The probing questions, statistical analyses, and flight simulations begin to shed doubt on the abilities of Sullenberger and his crew. During the movie, audience members will experience fluctuations between doubt and a conspiracy plotted by the NTSB.
Watching the scenes leading up to the crash shows how what was seen as normal day turned into potential catastrophe. Admiration for the flight crew of Flight 1569 blossoms while watching the professional manner used to ensure passengers’ safety. Not only does the flight crew shine, but so do the New York City first responders with their rapid response time. Eastwood’s direction of the rescue scene demonstrated the importance of a fast emergency response. The action packed scenes provide respect and trust to be built in Sullenberger’s character.
Throughout the investigation, the NTSB asks loaded and in-depth questions which Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles are expected to answer on the spot.
“No one warned us,” Sullenberger said. “No one said you are going to lose two engines at a lower altitude than any jet in history. This was dual engine loss at 2,800 feet followed by an immediate water landing with 155 souls on board. No one has ever trained for an incident like that.”
This powerful statement in conjunction with scenes depicting the crash help viewers fully appreciate how the extraordinary crew was able to safely return 155 people to their loved ones.