Miracle on the Hudson: One Year Later

Miracle on the Hudson: One Year Later

by Mike Krumboltz

13 hours ago

On January 15, 2009, US Airways flight 1549 made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. Amazingly, nobody on the flight was seriously injured. The event became known as "the Miracle on the Hudson," and pilot Chesley Sullenberger became an instant celebrity. One year later, interest in the flight and its key players continues to rock the Search box.
Over the past year, Captain Sullenberger (aka "Sully") went from being just another pilot asking that you please not hog the overhead bins to everyone's personal hero. He was invited to attend the inauguration of President Obama and served as the Grand Marshal at the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade. Time magazine named him as one the most influential people of 2009. He even wrote a book, "Highest Duty." He was also the recent subject of a documentary on TLC entitled "Brace for Impact." 
Mr. Sullenberger got the lion's share of attention following the amazing landing, but an unlikely love story between two passengers also scored big buzz. Ben Bostic and Laura Zych were strangers when they boarded the flight, not knowing that they were about to be part of a terrifying and triumphant event. After meeting at a reunion for the flight's survivors, the two struck up a conversation and one thing led to another. Now, they're a couple. Talk about having a great story whenever somebody asks how you met your significant other.
Of course, there were dozens of passengers on the flight, and while everyone walked away with their lives, many continue to struggle with post-traumatic stress. An article from the AP explains how some folks who were on flight 1549 are still too afraid to board planes. Others can't bring themselves to go swimming. For others, heights are now terrifying. Later this week, some of the survivors, including Sully, will gather near the spot in the Hudson where the plane went down. At the anniversary of the moment of impact "they will raise their glasses in a toast." Clearly, despite any hardships, they all have a lot to be grateful for.

Source: www.yahoo.com