Frederick Berretta - Flight of Faith: My Miracle on the Hudson

Copyright 2009 Frederick Berretta. All rights reserved.

Typeset and published in 2009 by Saint Benedict Press, LLC.
Typography is the property of Saint Benedict Press, LLC, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-935302-926
ISBN: 193-530-2-876

Cover design by Tony Pro.
Cover image Associated Press, Photo/Steven Day

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

I dedicate this book to the mercy of God, to the flight crew of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, to all who participated in the rescue of the passengers, and to the aeronautical engineers of the Airbus A-320.

And to my mother, who asked me to write this.

S hortly after takeoff from New York on January 15, 2009, a U.S. Airways Airbus A-320 crash-landed in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew survived the crash and were rescued from the freezing waters within minutes. It was a unique event in the modern commercial jet era, and one that inspired hope and awe in millions who followed the news on television and radio.

Within an hour after the passengers and crew of Flight 1549 had safely debarked rescue boats, the governor of New York proclaimed, Weve had a Miracle on Thirty-fourth Street, and now I believe weve had a Miracle on the Hudson.

For the majority of the passengers, no such proclamation was needed. As a passenger on the flight (and as a private pilot) I had a profound appreciation for the feat that had been accomplished. Captain Chesley Sullenberger coolly and decisively set the plane down in a busy waterway, skillfully avoiding watercraft of various kinds. The airframe stayed intact after impact and floated long enough for ferryboats to arrive to pluck passengers from the wings and rafts, saving us from certain hypothermia and potential death. And the list goes on.

When I climbed up the ladder of the ferryboat Thomas Jefferson, two men waited at the top like sentinels of mercy, and helped me onto the deck. They patted each one of us on the back and told us we had made it and were okay. It was then that an overwhelming and indescribable sense of gratitude came over my being a sense of gratitude to God and to all those who had saved my life and the lives of everyone on board the plane.

Shortly after the crash, I found myself being interviewed on CNN, Fox News, NPR, and several radio programs. And once I returned home, the questions kept coming: How has this event affected you? Has your life changed? Did you pray on the flight? Do you believe it was a miracle? In this account, I will try to answer those questions as thoughtfully as I can.

In myriad ways, Flight 1549 profoundly impacted my life perspective and my own faith journey. Though I find it difficult to discuss my experiences so openly, I feel almost obligated to do so, driven by a profound gratitude. My faith helped me in critical moments during Flight 1549, and Flight 1549 forever transformed my faith. In a way, they are now inextricably linked together. The value of this story has little to do with me, but if, in the sharing of it, a single individual soul is inspired to deepen his trust in God, it will have been worth the effort.

I want to thank my relatives, friends, and colleagues who reached out to me following the crash landing of Flight 1549. Your thoughtful remarks will always be remembered and I am forever grateful.

To Adam Reiss and those whom I met at CNN and Fox News studios: thank you for your warm welcome after the crash.

To Bob Diforio: thank you for your encouragement, diligence, and belief in my ability to write my story. To Jamie Saloff, thank you for your direction. And to Todd Aglialoro for your patient guidance.

To Robert Allard, Dr. Art Bolz, Felix Carroll, Patrick Coffin, Rico De Silva, Father Anthony Gramlich, Deacon Brian Miller, Bhavit Patel, Gary Towery, Michele Wells, Christine Valentine-Oswik, James Hetzel, and all those whom I met who encouraged me to tell my story.

A special note of thanks to Vinny Flynn: I am glad I bought your book and very grateful for your inspiring help.

To my sisters, Michele and Tina: thank you for all of your support. And to Bishop George Thomas: thank you for your prayers and counsel.

To my wife, Liz, and the four stars of our lives: Jonathan, Evan, Lauren, and Benjamin. It is for you that I have traveled to the corners of the world, and it is for you that I live my life. I am grateful to God that I have more time to be with you.

Finally, to Our Lady of the Bright Hill, the Star of the Sea, the humble Mother of God. You are the resplendent Queen of many titles, and you were with us over the waters of the Hudson that day. I hope to spend an eternity singing your praises for leading me to your Son, and for all you have done for me throughout my life.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of thy torrents. All thy waves and breakers sweep over me.

T he morning of January 14, 2009, began like any other, as I made my way to work in morning traffic, although the bright clearness of the early sky contrasted with the melancholy of the state of the world. The news on the radio told of the uncertainty of war, of spiraling economic indicators and a deepening recession, and it pushed my mind to a place where I did not want to go. I grew tired of the back-and-forth bickering of journalists debating whether we were headed for another Great Depression, so I tuned out the chatter and thought about what I needed to get done in the day ahead.

As I tried to keep my patience in the midst of the painstaking creep that is the morning commute to uptown Charlotte, I had no idea that in a just few short hours I would be rushing to catch a flight to New York for a last-minute meeting. On practically a weekly basis I had been traveling to New York finishing up a series of projects, but I was not scheduled to go that week, and I was pleased to have a somewhat normal routine at home. My only regret that morning was that I had skipped my early morning prayer and meditation. I resolved to make up for it later on, recalling my New Years resolution to commit more fully to my spiritual life and my relationship with God.

After making a few calls and arranging for an afternoon meeting with colleagues in New York, I decided that it would be important for me to attend in person. Critical decisions were being made regarding fellow associates jobs, and I knew the discussions would be better face-to-face. I asked my assistant to quickly check flights as I multitasked, replying to emails and gathering materials for the trip. On most trips to New York, Id usually returned on an evening flight. But when my assistant walked into my office and asked my preference, as all flights had open seats, I asked her to book the 2:45 p.m. return. I wanted to get home in time to see my kids before bed, at least this one week.

I hurried home to pack for the quick overnight trip. Over the years, I had traveled so much that I had grown to despise carrying an extra piece of luggage; I simply used my briefcase as a suitcase for overnight trips. I rushed to fold an extra suit and change of clothes, and shot out the door. I gave my wife a kiss and a hug, and I recall the house being very peaceful and quiet, and wishing that I could just stay home and forget the whole thing. I had spent a great deal of my professional life flying around the United States and abroad, yet each time there was a mental hurdle to overcome when I made my way to the airport. This time I also had a strange, uneasy feeling about the trip due to concern over the meetings, I told myself but I shook off the anxiety and headed out.