Twelve years ago today was
the amazing rescue now known as the Miracle on the Hudson, when a U.S. Airways
flight struck a bird moments after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport.
Capt. Chesley Sullenberger
had no choice but to land in the Hudson River.
Crew members at New York
Waterway jumped into action to help rescue the passengers, becoming the most
successful marine rescue in aviation history.
All 155 passengers and crew
on board were rescued, with help from the Coast Guard and fire department. Ferry
boat Captain Manuel Liba's boat was second on scene.
"There wasn't time to think," says Liba. "It was like there's a concept in
your mind and you just do it. You had a sense of what to do, getting everything
routed, getting people into the cabin, close the door, try and keep them
warm."
Liba says the thing he'll remember most
from that day was how people near and far came together to help.