Incredible job by the crew. I have never been prouder to be an airline pilot. Yes, that is what we are trained to do. Save everyone's butt when things go bad.
But also, good job by the ferry boats. They said the statue of liberty ferry boats were racing to the plane the instant it hit the water. Boats were there less than 5 minutes after impact.
I've been staring at a map for the past 20 minutes, digesting the more credible media reports and pax interviews. "Incredible job" only scratches the tip of the iceberg. I'm not sure how much of this was "discussed" (or even briefed) or how much was instinct by the crew, but consider that after the failures, immediate options that present themselves:
- Continue straight and put it down in a neighborhood in Yonkers. We know how that would turn out.
- Continue straight, contend with the Tappan Zee, land in the river northbound. How would that end? Given the location, would take an hour to get enough assets on scene to get everyone off safely.
- Turn right, clear Hart Island, put down in the Sound near Sands Point. How would that end? Same result, an hour until there were enough assets on scene.
- Turn left, see if you can make TEB (there was a report on the new along those lines), see you won't make it. Continue the turn and put down in the only stretch of area in New York with no real obstructions and the highest probability of instantaneous onscene assistance by dozens of agencies. We all know how that turned out.
Absolutely phenomenal job by the entire crew!