Captain Sully, hero of 'Miracle on the Hudson,' shares chilling theory on the DC plane crash

The hero pilot reflects on the tragic DC collision and the challenges of nighttime flying.

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the iconic pilot behind the "Miracle on the Hudson," has shared his chilling theory on the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C.

The crash, which claimed the lives of all 67 people on board, occurred Wednesday night near Reagan National Airport.

Sullenberger, who famously landed a plane in the Hudson River in 2009, spoke with The New York Times about the difficulties pilots face when flying at night, particularly over water. He speculated that the limited ground lighting over the water could have played a significant role in making the collision harder to avoid.

“There would have been fewer ground lights visible over the water than over land at night,” he explained, adding that “this might have made it a little bit harder to see.”

The 74-year-old aviation expert emphasized that “Nighttime always makes things different about seeing other aircraft — basically all you can do is see the lights on them.” He elaborated on the challenge pilots face, saying, “You have to try to figure out: Are they above you or below you? Or how far away? Or which direction are they headed? Everything is harder at night.”

Sullenberger expressed his hope that the cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, and air traffic control data will help provide more answers. “I’m just devastated by this. We have the obligation to learn from every failure and improve,” he said.

He also discussed the potential role of Reagan National Airport’s design in contributing to the incident. With its short runways and heavy traffic, Sullenberger noted that pilots need specific training to navigate the airport safely. “It hasn’t changed much since [the 1930s],” he said, referencing the airport’s long history. “Of course, we’ve added technology to it. But a lot of the technology is old.”

Sully’s insights also touched on the importance of maintaining rigorous safety protocols throughout an aviation career. He likened aviation safety to a row of dominoes: “It’s hard to have the diligence and the dedication to adhere to best practices on every minute of every hour of every day, every week, every month, every year for a decades-long aviation career. Any lapse could potentially be fatal, even though we have a lot of safety.”

The collision, which involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers, highlights the risks of air travel and the ongoing importance of learning from tragedies.

Rescue crews continue to recover bodies and debris from the Potomac River, with authorities hoping that the retrieved black boxes will shed light on what went wrong in the moments leading up to the disaster.

Sullenberger's reflections serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in flying, especially at night, and the critical importance of vigilance, preparation, and technology in preventing accidents.