As I am sure you all know, US Airways flight 1549 made a ontrolled emergency landing in the Hudson River yesterday. One of our Colgan Air Family Members, First Officer Derek Alter, was a non revenue passenger on the flight traveling between LGA and CLT. Shortly after the accident, US Airways notified us that Derek was a passenger and assured us that he would be well taken care of.
Last evening, Dean Bandavanis had the opportunity speak to Derek briefly when he was at the hospital to be checked out. Derek’s father, who is a pilot for US Airways, flew immediately to LGA to be with Derek. His mother advised Mary Finnigan last night that Derek had called immediately following the accident from the ferry to let them know he was fine. Mary and I spoke with Derek’s mother this morning, as Derek and his dad were on route to Charlotte, NC. She told us that he was fine.
During the rescue effort, Derek gave his uniform jacket and shirt to fellow passengers who were wet from jumping into the river. Today on Good Morning America, a passenger, who still had Derek’s shirt, proudly held it up as another display of professionalism that all of the heroic crewmembers exhibited yesterday.
We are very grateful that Derek, all the passengers and crew are safe this morning. It is a testament to the skill, training and years of experience of the US Airways Pilots and Flight Attendants who saved 150 passengers.
As New York’s Governor Patterson said yesterday evening’s press conference, it truly was a "Miracle on the Hudson".
