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Sully

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At New Yorks LaGuardia airport passengers stood in line
Waiting to board U.S.airways, flight one five four nine
Chesley Sullenberger was the captain and Jeff Skiles the co pilot
They were bound for North Carolina to the city of Charlotte.

It was a very cold January day in two thousand and nine
As they carried out pre fight checks and reported everything was fine
They were given the green light to take off to the sky
Sully was an air force veteran pilot and he knew how to fly.

They were minutes into the flight when disaster struck
And Sully would call on his experience with a measure of luck
A flock of geese flew at them, now both engines were dead
There was no time to panic and Sully kept a cool head.

He radioed a mayday message saying both engines were lost
And was told to head back to the airport, at any cost
Without altitude and thrust they were gliding in the sky
 Sully realised he wouldn't make it and everyone would die.

He decided the only option was to land on the Hudson River
With winters temperatures, the worst would be they'd just shiver
He sent a message to the crew and passengers, to brace for impact
And apart from the loss of an engine he landed on the river intact.

He rushed out of the cockpit shouting "Evacuate"
Water was now pouring in at an alarming rate
He was the last person to leave the plane ensuring everyone got out
He'd cheated the grim reaper, of that there's no doubt.

River boats nearby rushed to them, to give a helping hand
And soon passengers and crew were safely on dry land
They were taken to hospitals and given the all clear
Friends told Sully he'd made the right call and had nothing to fear.

The National Transportation Safety Board held an inquiry
And with computer simulations said Sully had compromised safety
They claimed one engine had power and he could have landed on tarmac
The video simulations supported that view when they were played back.

One engine on the plane was damaged; the other had been lost
They searched the deep Hudson River at an enormous cost
Finally they found it and the engine blades had all gone
It confirmed what Sully had said was true; that he'd been right all along.

Sully and Jim Skiles were exonerated and cleared of any blame
They became heroes of the nation and gained international fame
Even presidents congratulated them for their quick thinking that day
And for their brave and heroic efforts on that watery runway.

There were no fatalities and the fight for survival had been won
And it became known worldwide as The Miracle on the Hudson
Sully became well known, becoming something of a celebrity
He knew that if he'd made the wrong call, it would have been a tragedy. 



Written on 8th May 2021

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Brian Strand Date: 10/5/2021 12:36:00 AM Great film as well Tom Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 10/5/2021 1:12:00 AM Yes it was Brian, that opening scene still gives me chills when I think of it Tom

Paul Callus Date: 5/20/2021 5:49:00 AM I can clearly remember this "Miracle on the Hudson", Tom. Experience and quick thinking saved the day! You are an excellent story teller :) Regards // paul Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/20/2021 7:08:00 AM Thank you very much Paul, im happy you enjoyed it, imagine having to make a decision like that in a couple of minutes, it took great nerve. Tom

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/17/2021 2:23:00 PM Just reading your recent replies to me. I think the movie was just named Sully?? I have a horrible memory for all the movies I watch! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/17/2021 2:50:00 PM Yes it was Andrea, Tom Hanks played Sully and Clint Eastwood directed it. Tom

Kim Rodrigues Date: 5/17/2021 4:21:00 AM I watched the movie they made. Informative write, dear poet! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/17/2021 4:48:00 AM Thank you very much Kim, I watched it again recently and it inspired me to pay tribute to him. He only had minutes to make a decision and thank God he made the right one. Tom

Joanna Daniel Date: 5/16/2021 3:35:00 AM Wow again, Tom! I had never heard of this story before I read this, a split second decision turned him into a hero:) wonderful tribute:) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/16/2021 5:01:00 AM Thank you very much Jo, look out for the movie Sully, well worth watching. He ignored advice to return to the airport and thank God he did, it would have been like 911 if he'd crashed in the city. Tom.

Gary Radice Date: 5/15/2021 2:27:00 PM Tom, his makes for an excellent accompaniment to an equally excellent Tom Hanks film. How Sully remained so calm saving those lives and when he was in court beats me. A true hero. Cheers - Gary Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/15/2021 2:40:00 PM Thank you very much Gary, it was amazing how he took it all in his stride and it doesn't bear thinking about if he'd followed ATCs advice to try and get back to the airport. I watched the film again recently and Tom Hanks played the part of Sully so well, it was Clint Eastwood who brought the story to the big screen and I thought I'd honour his bravery with a poem. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 5/14/2021 12:05:00 AM Tom this story is so well told, excellent and I too remember the incident, due to a brave and intuitive Captain Sully, not one life was lost, a true miracle. Blessings my friend, Jennifer. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/14/2021 12:38:00 PM Thank you very much Jennifer, watching the movie the other night inspired me to write it. Enjoy the weekend. Tom

Quoth Theraven Date: 5/13/2021 6:49:00 AM Tom, Wonderful retelling of a modern day miracle. Canadian Geese invasion thwarted too. A true hero if ever there was. -Richard Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/14/2021 12:37:00 PM Thank you Richard, I agree with you, a true hero. Tom

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/12/2021 10:45:00 PM I am really glad he did not go down for that decision he made. There was a movie on this, right? I am pretty sure I saw it. WEll done, Tom Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/14/2021 12:36:00 PM Thank you Andrea, yes there was starring Tom Hanks, it was only by finding the other engine that proved he made the right call. Tom

Gordon Mcconnell Date: 5/11/2021 2:14:00 PM Great pen Tom, funny enough I watched the movie starrng Tom Hanks last week as it's in BBC I player at the moment as I hadn't watched it before and hadn't heard the story before. this has great imagery and great insight too. Hope all is well, blessings,Gordon Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/12/2021 11:38:00 AM Thank you Gordon, although I'd seen it a while back I watched it again the other night and it inspired me to write it. Im in New Milton at the moment down by the new forest. Wifi patchy so ive been scarce this week. Hope you're well. Tom

Terry Flood Date: 5/11/2021 11:46:00 AM Remember the event like it was yesterday but I was unaware of ‘dicks in suits’ trying to cast blame... pretty typical that. A great write and a great read, Tom. Terry Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/12/2021 11:26:00 AM Thank you very much Terry, was thinking of you this morning as I'm in New Milton at the moment and was looking across the water at the needles. The NTSB were out to nail someone but thankfully they found the other engine that confirmed what Sully said was true. Hope you're well. Tom Trying to catch up with patchy wifi, so frustrating.

Lindsay Laurie Date: 5/9/2021 11:59:00 PM Hello Tom ... this is why training and experience is so important. Without it, this act of pure bravery may not have happened. Thank you Tom for writing this fine poem - Lindsay Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/10/2021 12:01:00 AM Thank you very much Lindsay, so true, his years of experience certainly payed off. Tom

Judy Ball Date: 5/9/2021 8:03:00 AM What a fie tribute to a brave ad sensible man. Also a recount of an exciting story. I remember hearing about it and was really amazed and said god was with him the whole way. Good job here Tom. God Bless, JB Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 8:22:00 AM Thank you very much Judy, they even made a movie about it and I watched it the other night. You're right, God was certainly watching over them that day, what could have happened doesn't bear thinking about. Hope you're well. Tom

Richard Lamoureux Date: 5/9/2021 7:47:00 AM The other Tom did a great job of playing Sully’s part. A good recounting of the story Tom. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 7:51:00 AM Thank you very much Richard, he certainly did, I watched it again the other night, I dont think Sully ever got over the experience when you think what could have happened, you can understand why. Tom

Heidi Sands Date: 5/9/2021 6:50:00 AM Well done Tom! I remember this story. Amazing, how important quick decisions are. Thank God for the right outcome with this. Enjoy today :) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 7:49:00 AM Thank you very much Heidi, if he'd listened to air traffic control it would have been a disaster, thank God he didn't. Tom

Jan Allison Date: 5/9/2021 6:00:00 AM you bring true stories to life with your wonderful words, another gem flows from your pen Tom:-) hugs jan xx Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 6:16:00 AM Thank you very much Jan, I was inspired when I watched it the other night on tv. An amazing story. Hope you're well. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 5/9/2021 3:43:00 AM Hats off for this magnificent narration, my dearest friend, Tom. Yes, I had followed the story very closely and if I may, I would like to mention what Jim Skiles said when during the inquire was asked if he would do anything differently than, Sully. He replied: '' Yes, I would have landed it in...July!" A FAVE for me my friend! Have you considered becoming...a journalist? Blessings. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 4:36:00 AM Not sure about being a journalist, I think I've missed the boat lol. Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 4:21:00 AM Thank you very much Demetrios, im pleased that you enjoyed it. Thanks too for the fave. It was a fascinating story without a doubt, that comment he made at the enquiry made me smile, the water in January must have been freezing. Hope you enjoy your day. Tom

Victor Buhagiar Date: 5/9/2021 2:36:00 AM You have a knack of finding true stores and convert them into intelligent and wonderful verse. A Fave Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 2:51:00 AM Thank you Victor and for the fave, I love history and when composing historical poems I always try and get as many accurate facts in as possible. Tom

Panagiota Romios Date: 5/8/2021 9:29:00 PM Thank you for another great epic and saluting greatness! These days we are into degrading people. Forgetting the stars of humanity. Was thinking of many, worldwide, who protect and serve us and get spat upon or killed. Doctors who saved live and limbs. We don't know their names. News covers negativity and hate, 24/7. Half the time the info is inaccurate. Have you seen the movie about Sully? Great job, Tom. Pangie xx Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 1:35:00 AM Thank you very much Pangie, yes Ive seen it twice and the man is a true hero, like you say there's many like him. Was reading about a German girl this morning Sophie Scholl who opposed the Nazis and their murderous agenda, her and five others were murdered by them. Not all Germans were Nazis. Tom

Gershon Wolf Date: 5/8/2021 9:08:00 PM That National Transportation Safety Board ought to be ashamed of itself. But it wasn't and it's not. Bureaucrats run the world: Play it safe; wear your mask until you die; don't risk large gatherings, even where everyone is vaccinated. Bah, humbug! Hope others see the NTSFB for what it truly is. ~ I want out of the craziness! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 1:30:00 AM Thank you Gershon, I suppose they're on big salaries and justify their existence by looking for blame where there isnt any. If they hadnt found that other engine Sully would be doing time. Your right, its a crazy world. Tom

Juliet Ligon Date: 5/8/2021 3:42:00 PM Amazing poetic recollection of heroic bravery. Powerful storytelling. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/9/2021 1:27:00 AM Thank you very much Juliet, im pleased that you liked it. Tom

Sotto Poet Date: 5/8/2021 3:09:00 PM Creatively, enjoyable manner, you have so eloquently described the story in your poems that I can envision it in my mind. We also have people like great pilots on the scene who can make quick decisions and carry them out and the ones who are prompt to assist with everything else because vital decisions have to be made in a short time. Lovely poem, have a great evening dear Tom. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/8/2021 3:13:00 PM Thank you very much Lasaad, thankfully there are many like Sully who can think fast and many benefit from their decisions, especially in life or death situations. Tom

Kim Merryman Date: 5/8/2021 1:44:00 PM An excellent write, Tom! Blessings, Kim M Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/8/2021 2:06:00 PM Thank you very much Kim, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 5/8/2021 1:25:00 PM - I remember this story, Tom - They did a fantastic job ... no wonder they were honored - Excellent written :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/8/2021 2:06:00 PM Thank you very much Anne, it was the best decision he ever made in his life. Tom

Beryl Edmonds Date: 5/8/2021 9:51:00 AM You’ve told the story so well through your poetry Tom, if only Captain 'Sully'' Sullenberger and co pilot Jim Skiles could get to read this poem, also it should go down in history. Wonderful! ~ Belle Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/8/2021 10:22:00 AM Thank you very much Belle, I watched the film Sully the other night and felt I had to honour him in some way, imagine his situation, seconds to chose a path between life and death, thank God he chose what his instincts told him and not what Air Traffic Control suggested. Imagine it coming down on the city, it doesnt bear thinking about. Tom

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