The date January 15 will forever be etched in the history of aviation disasters. Two separate aviation crashes took place on the same day, 14 years apart, and both had contrasting ending. While in one crash, the bravery and skills of the pilot saved lives of 155 people, in another, 72 people lost their lives, to either pilot’s fault, or plane’s technical malfunction. These two incidents are the plane crash in Nepal which happened on January 15, 2023 killing all 72 passengers on board the Yeti Airlines flight. The other one happened on January 15, 2009, when Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger managed to save lives of 155 people on board US Airways flight, landing the plane on the Hudson river.
Nepal Plane Crash
A Yeti Airline’s plane with 72 people, including 68 passengers and 4 crew members crashed while landing at the Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on January 15, 2023. The plane crashed between the old airport and the Pokhara International Airport, Sudarshan Bartaula, spokesperson of Yeti Airlines mentioned. The ATR 72 aircraft, which was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara was carrying two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals, Sudarshan Bartaula. Now an unconfirmed video has surfaced online showing the final moments of the plane before the crash.
Miracle on the Hudson
14 years ago today, a US Airways flight 1549 landed in the Hudson river when it struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, New York City, losing all engine power. There were 155 people on board the flight operating an Airbus A320. All the passengers came out safely from the plane and were rescued by nearby boats, with only a few serious injuries.