"There is a plane in the Hudson River".
“Brace! Brace! Brace! Heads down! Brace! Brace! Brace!”
And with those words the story of US Airways flight 1549 took on a whole new meaning for the 155 passengers and crew on board. For Doreen Welsh, flight attendant, it was a day like any other day. It was the last leg of a 4 day trip and then back home to Pittsburgh to be with her son. On that seemingly normal day in January 2009, through a series of events that had the potential for a fatal catastrophe, her life and the lives of the other 154 passengers and crew would never be the same. To follow Doreen on this remarkable journey is amazing. As she speaks you will listen with wonder, you will laugh and even find yourself fighting back tears. Doreen will walk you through the moments after the crash as she struggled to evacuate the back-end of a sinking plane as it filled with the icy waters of the Hudson River and to save her own life in the process.
You may have heard Captain Sullenberger speak about the logistics of landing a powerless commercial jet on the Hudson River, but the story that Doreen Welsh will tell is a different story. It’s a story that even the media did not share. It is the human story. It is the story of a normal woman thrust into an extraordinary situation that did some remarkable things and in the process saved the lives of dozens of people. Through her story she has certainly made an impact on those that have been fortunate enough to listen. It is truly a special program and one definitely worth experiencing.
I have had the honor of hearing Doreen Speak twice. I am humbled to call her a friend. Through her I have had a glimpse of my worst nightmare. She is a remarkable lady and I salute her and the braves souls from the fateful flight in 2009.