US Airways flight 1549 is now etched in our minds forever. The “Hudson Miracle” captured the attention and awe of the public this past week when disaster was averted because of the swift and precise actions of many. The pilot, co-pilot, crew, rescue teams on the Hudson – all made instantaneous small adjustments that saved 150 lives and avoided a national tragedy.
In the midst of all of the heroic stories from this miraculous turn of events that continues to unfold, one person in particular has piqued my interest. He was identified as Jim Whittaker. Whittaker wasn’t the pilot, the co-pilot, a member of the crew, or even an air marshal who just happened to be on board. He is a normal guy just like you and me.
He was seated in row 19 next to a woman, Tess Sosa, and her 9 ½ month-old son, Damian. Only a few rows back, in row 23, sat Tess’ husband, Martin, and their 4 year-old daughter, Sophia. Tess was not particularly happy with having her family split up on the plane, but as the frightful events began to play out, she described Whittaker as “a very calm, cool and collected gentleman”.
His reassurance to her when the plane started to go down that “everything was going to be fine” was exactly what Tess needed in the moment. When the pilot alerted the passengers to “brace for impact”, Whittaker reached over and volunteered to hold Damian and “brace him for impact”. “I just trusted him”, Tess told MSNBC.
As the plane crashed into the Hudson River and ice-cold water began flooding the cabin, the pace of the scene heightened even more.
“People were just trying to jump over each other, jump over the seats,” Martin Sosa explained. “Some people were actually going for their luggage. Everything you’re not supposed to do, people did.”
In the face of an unbelievably scary moment, Whittaker still traveled gracefully. Even when life made an abrupt U-turn and didn’t play out as he imagined, he made a positive impact on those around him. He was one of the many in those quick and critical moments of this event whose precise and compassionate actions made all the difference.
For those of us who step foot inside an airport in the future, this is a reminder that our actions and spirit impact the culture of our surroundings. Even when the moment is far less dramatic than the scene on the Hudson, our actions matter.
For those of us who see air travel as perhaps the greatest metaphor for our mobile world today, Whittaker’s spirit is inspiration for how to handle the next obstacle, delay or cancellation that appears along our path.
Today, travel gracefully.
Jason Barger is author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.
Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,458 miles to seven different cities – without leaving the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how our airport experiences can teach us about our lives TODAY. The funny and inspiring stories remind us how to change our daily world in our personal lives, businesses, schools, and faith communities! Join the movement. All four editions of Step Back from the Baggage Claim are motivational books perfect for anyone looking to impact change in their life and work.
