NEW YORK, New York (Achieve3000, February 16, 2009). Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III is a hero. On January 15, 2009, the veteran pilot safely landed his disabled jetliner on New York City's Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 people onboard. The maneuver required skill and composure under pressure—and Sullenberger was just the right person to handle it.
The airplane, a US Airways Airbus A320 bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, lost the use of both of its engines after it struck a flock of birds during takeoff at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Sullenberger knew that he had to make a quick decision in order to get the plane out of the air safely. He thought about heading to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey before realizing that it might take too long to get there. Sullenberger also wanted to avoid bringing the plane down near buildings and homes. It took the pilot about two minutes to go through all possible landing spots before deciding to land on the river. He guided the plane to an area of the Hudson where he could see commuter ferries, knowing that there would be rescue equipment aboard the boats. The landing was safe, thanks to Sullenberger's skill and quick thinking. Although one person was injured during the incident, everyone survived.
"That pilot has to be commended," said passenger Beth McHugh. "He steered that plane so well. I just can't believe how well he did. We're all alive because of him."
Once the plane was in the water, the crew opened most of its emergency doors, and passengers began to evacuate onto the wings. The rescue, a combined effort among the Coast Guard, the New York City Police Department, and people aboard commuter ferries, went smoothly. One commuter ferry arrived within minutes of the landing, and some of its own riders—ordinary people—grabbed life vests and lines of rope and tossed them to plane passengers as the plane slowly sank. Even then, Sullenberger was checking to be sure everyone was safe.
"[Sullenberger] walked [through] the plane twice after everybody else was off, and tried to verify that there was nobody else onboard, and he [assured] us there was not," said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "He was the last one up the aisle and he made sure that there was nobody behind him."
Sullenberger could not have been more prepared. The 57-year-old spent seven years as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force before he started flying commercial aircraft in 1980. In addition to his job as a pilot, Sullenberger runs a safety consulting firm that advises airlines, as well as government officials, on ways to make air travel as safe as possible. He has also been studying the practice of remaining calm in a crisis.
Sullenberger became an instant hero after landing on the Hudson River. He earned accolades from those aboard US Airways Flight 1549, from the mayor of New York City and the governor of the state of New York, and from an online fan club.
Candace Andersen, who lives a few blocks from Sullenberger and his family, said it was an amazing story. She is proud to live in the same town as the pilot.
"You look at his training [and] you look at his experience," Andersen said on the day of the incident. "It was just the right pilot at the right time in charge of that plane. [He] saved so many lives. He is a man who is calm, cool, [and] collected, just as he was today."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Think about US Airways Flight 1549. Which of these events must have happened second?
The plane landed on the water, its emergency doors opened, and passengers began to evacuate onto the wings.
The plane lost the use of both of its engines after it struck a flock of birds during takeoff at LaGuardia Airport.
Sullenberger was commended by the mayor of New York City and the governor of New York state.
Sullenberger walked through the plane twice after everyone else was off in order to verify that no one was left onboard.
The plane landed on the water, its emergency doors opened, and passengers began to evacuate onto the wings.
According to the article, why did "Sully" Sullenberger decide to land the disabled jetliner on the Hudson River?
He wanted to bring the plane down close to LaGuardia Airport in order to access the airport's emergency equipment.
He wanted to avoid buildings and bring the plane down where ferry boats with rescue equipment could provide help right away.
He wanted to avoid putting the plane down at an airport because the wheels of the landing gear were jammed.
He wanted to land the plane on the water in order to safely inflate the automatic emergency evacuation slide.
He wanted to avoid buildings and bring the plane down where ferry boats with rescue equipment could provide help right away.
Which statement from the article best supports the idea that Sullenberger had the right combination of skills and training to safely land the disabled jetliner?
Candace Andersen, who lives a few blocks from Sullenberger and his family, said it was an amazing story.
Once the plane was on the water, its emergency doors opened, and passengers began to evacuate onto the wings.
In addition to his job as a pilot, Sullenberger runs a safety consulting firm that advises airlines, as well as government officials, on ways to make air travel as safe as possible.
The airplane, a US Airways Airbus A320 bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, lost the use of both of its engines after it struck a flock of birds during takeoff at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
In addition to his job as a pilot, Sullenberger runs a safety consulting firm that advises airlines, as well as government officials, on ways to make air travel as safe as possible.
The author probably wrote this article in order to __________.
Inform readers about the heroic actions of a pilot who saved 155 people onboard a jetliner
Explain the way a disabled jetliner was evacuated and the people onboard were rescued
Explain the background skills and training it takes to become a commercial airline pilot
Inform readers about a joint effort by the Coast Guard and the New York City Police Department
Inform readers about the heroic actions of a pilot who saved 155 people onboard a jetliner
Which question is not answered by the article?
What made Sullenberger decide to land the plane on the Hudson River?
What did Sullenberger think the ferry boats could do to help?
What caused the jetliner's engines to stall during takeoff?
What happened to the plane after it sank in the river?
What happened to the plane after it sank in the river?
The article states:
On January 15, 2009, the veteran pilot safely landed his disabled jetliner on New York City's Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 people onboard. The maneuver required skill and composure under pressure—and Sullenberger was just the right person to handle it.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word maneuver, as it is used above?
Aisle
Gadget
Tactic
Portrait