Unveiling Courage: Discovering Heroism in Times of Crisis – A Must-Read History Book

NICK EICHER, HOST: Good morning! Today is Monday, January 13th, and this is The World and Everything in It from WORLD Radio. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Next, we dive into the WORLD History Book. Today, we’ll explore two plane crashes and the heroes who risked their lives to save others. Here’s WORLD’s Emma Perley.

EMMA PERLEY: Let’s turn back to a snowy day in Washington, D.C., January 13, 1982. The roads were slick with six inches of fresh snow, and banker Arland Williams was headed to Washington National Airport for a flight to Florida. After hours of waiting, the plane finally took off, despite worsening weather conditions.

As the aircraft rolled along the runway, ice formed on its wings. The flight crew failed to turn on the de-icing system, leaving the plane unprepared for takeoff. Among the passengers were pilot Joe Stiley and his secretary, Nikki Felch.

Just minutes after takeoff, the plane struggled to gain altitude. Stiley later recalled feeling nervous and aware that they faced a severe crisis.

Audio from the cockpit reveals the tension:
CAPTAIN: We’re stalling!

FIRST OFFICER: We’re going down!

Moments later, the plane scraped the 14th Street Bridge before crashing into the icy Potomac River. Of the 79 passengers, only six survived, including Williams, who became trapped in the wreckage.

As the fuselage sank, Williams and the others clung to the tail of the plane. A helicopter from U.S. Park Police arrived, lowering a lifeline to the survivors. Williams selflessly passed life vests to others, ensuring they were rescued first.

A bystander, Lenny Skutnik, swam out to help a woman struggling to hold on. Sadly, Williams did not make it; he drowned before rescuers could reach him. Later, the 14th Street Bridge was rebuilt and renamed to honor him. Former President Ronald Reagan awarded Skutnik and Williams posthumously with the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their bravery.

Fast forward 27 years to another dramatic event in the sky. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was piloting US Airways Flight 1549, carrying 155 passengers. On January 15, 2009, his day began like any other—until disaster struck shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

The plane collided with a flock of Canada geese, causing both engines to fail. Sully had to make a quick decision to land on the Hudson River. Just before impact, he calmly announced to passengers to brace for landing.

When the plane hit the water, it remained intact. Sully and his crew quickly evacuated everyone, ensuring that passengers received life vests and could exit safely. Nearby boats rushed to assist in the rescue.

This event became known as the Miracle on the Hudson, earning Sully and his crew commendations for their exceptional teamwork and swift actions during an emergency. Sully later emphasized the importance of teamwork in his testimony about the incident.

That’s a look at today’s WORLD History Book. I’m Emma Perley.

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