Crash Landing on the Hudson

Ian Miller | 02/17/2025

As a leader, you don’t realize how much responsibility is in your hands until you strike the unexpected. There is no more drastic example of this than the landing of US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson. The crucial minutes leading up to the crash landing in the river were the most important ones in Captain Sullenburger’s career as a pilot. All of his experience and training were tested in these crucial minutes. In what many call a miracle, all of the 155 passengers survived the crash landing. Learn more in this 12 minute interview with Captain Sullenburger. 

Do not take your leadership lightly. When everything is going well, it’s easy to forget just how impactful your every decision can be to those you’re leading. I want to highlight 3 leadership lessons from the crash landing on the Hudson.

1. Disciplined preparation happens way before the crisis strikes. 

That’s why emergency responders, flight crews and medical personnel regularly review detailed checklists go through emergency simulations. In the moment of crisis, time is of essence. And every ounce of preparation increases the chances of survival in the face of crisis. Defining a potential crisis and articulating the actions that will be taken in the face of that crisis have saved many lives. It ensures that everyone onboard is working together to increase the chances of a successful landing. It gives language that is strategically loaded with meaning. It provides a pre-defined pathway that everyone has agreed to long before takeoff. In the case of US Airways flight 1549, 155 lives were saved because of disciplined preparation. 

2. Life experience is the trump card when the unexpected is at the door. 

No matter how much training someone has had, it’s the captains with years of experience that can ultimately crash-land a plane safely. The training enables, but cannot replace, experience. In a world that lives on instant everything, there is no plug-and-play leadership. True leadership comes with experience, coupled with a humble heart and a posture of learning. When emergency strikes, how you’ve lived over an extended period of time will become auto-pilot, guiding your every action, whether good or bad. 

3. Emergencies are what set leaders apart. 

When you strike the flock of birds, your leadership becomes a life-or-death experience for the people on-board with you. Whether you’re a true team player or not is demonstrated vividly when you strike crisis. Whether you’re able to stay focused and level-headed in an emotionally charged-situation becomes evident when you actually enter an emotionally-charged situation. Whether you are a selfless, serving leader or not is set on display when you actually have the opportunity to lay everything on the line for those you serve. 

Your team might seem to be doing well right now. But the real picture will emerge if when you face the unexpected together. 

Do you recognize the power you wield as a leader? 

What are you doing to increase your skill and understanding so that you can better lead your team through the uncharted territory of crisis?

What can you do to surround yourself with more experienced leaders so that you can better lead in times of uncertainty?

How are the difficult things of today preparing you for future challenges? 

What is one way your team could pull together today to be better equipped for the challenges you anticipate this year?