The One-Time Water Landing

You can't practice ditching a wheeled aircraft, so you must get it right.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, September 13, 2024 at 09:10 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Most information about ditching comes from interviewing colleagues who have done it. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Ditching is a controlled emergency landing of an aircraft on water, requiring mental preparation and constant consideration when flying beyond gliding distance from land.
Pilot accounts emphasize critical safety measures for ditching, including the importance of secure restraints, being prepared for immediate egress (e.g., carrying a seatbelt cutter), and thoroughly briefing passengers on emergency procedures.
Successful ditching involves following established guidance (like the AIM and POH) for approach, securing the cabin, preparing exits, and taking specific post-impact actions for safe escape and survival.

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On January 15, 2009, approximately two minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport (KGLA) in New York, US Airways Flight 1549 encountered a flock of birds. Several were ingested into the two engines, resulting in a nearly complete loss of thrust.

Out of power, altitude and options, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and copilot Jeffrey Skiles ditched the aircraft in the Hudson River near midtown Manhattan. There were 155 souls on board. There were injuries but no loss of life, and the term “Miracle on the Hudson” was coined since it was viewed as one of the most successful ditchings ever performed.