Flight 1549

I'm sure there will be more information to come in the future weeks regarding US Airways Flight 1549 and I'm sure I will have other reflections, but a few things stick out and are worth reading at present.

First, make sure you take a look at this visualization of the flight path based on the ATC reports available:



The path taken by the aircraft is quite remarkable--as is the entire incident--but the captains choice to not head back to LaGuardia and head for the Hudson (and the ability to miss all bridges, towers, transmission lines, helicopters, boats, and--not to mention additional geese--any other substantial traffic) is something that we may not see easily replicated.

Some of the events that occurred are the result of good training and planning (when able) as well as good engineering of the aircraft. [Read this great Wall Street Journal article for more background on the events from the perspective of aircraft systems and engineering.]

But not every result in this event came so because of skill or planning or even the right amount of decision-making. Even if you don't agree with John Piper's proclamation of God's planning amidst our lack of circumstantial control, it is worth pondering that our last President's tenure was marked and will be remembered by the unfortunate events related to 4 aircraft that were uncontrolled and unplanned by him. Will this President's tenure be marked and remembered by an omen of fortune involving an aircraft that was likewise outside the scope of his planning and control?