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ARMENIAN PASSENGER AMONG THOSE ON BOARD US AIRWAYS "MIRACLE FLIGHT"
AZG Armenian Daily
20/01/2009
Religion
"It Was Like One Big Family," says Carl Bazarian
Carl Bazarian said he and other passengers on board the Charlotte-bound
US Airways Flight 1549 "knew we were going to die" yesterday afternoon
when they realized that the jetliner was descending into the Hudson
River.
But within moments their fortunes reversed, as all 150 passengers
and five crew members safely climbed out of the floating aircraft
and awaited rescue.
"We evacuated and everyone helped each other out. It was like one big
family," Mr. Bazarian said. "A near-tragic occurrence turned into a
very positive humanitarian experience."
Bazarian, an active member of the Armenian Church and the vice chairman
of the Fund for Armenian Relief's Board of Directors, was traveling
via Charlotte to his home in Florida on Thursday, January 15.
About four minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New
York, Mr. Bazarian said, there was a loud noise followed by fire
and smoke. Passengers were "upset, but we weren't panicky or overly
concerned," he said, explaining that people assumed the pilot would
return to LaGuardia.
Instead, Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III warned passengers
to prepare for impact - and "Boom, we hit the water," Mr. Bazarian
said.
"For about 10 or 11 seconds it's surreal, but then adrenaline kicks
in," Mr. Bazarian said. Evacuees lined up along the plane's wings
and waited to be brought to shore. Those standing on the left wing
were ferried to New York. Passengers on the right wing, including
Mr. Bazarian, were taken to New Jersey.
Many were standing without winter coats in the frigid air. Mr. Bazarian
said he was wet up to his knees as the water rose around the Airbus
A320.
Still, the general mood was calm and optimistic.
"I had a good feeling when we were on the wing that we had a good
chance of surviving," Mr. Bazarian said.
The "shared experience, belief in each other, and trust" brought people
together, he added. Women and children boarded the lifeboats first,
followed by the other passengers.
"It was tense, but there was no screaming or yelling or panic,"
Mr. Bazarian said.
Officials are still investigating the crash, but initial
reports said collision with a flock of birds caused the engines to
fail. Mr. Bazarian said once passengers exited the plane, many thanked
the pilot for the expert landing.
Mr. Bazarian returned to LaGuardia yesterday evening and took another
flight to Charlotte. He arrived in Florida this morning.
"Carl is such a fine man, such an excellent leader, and we are grateful
to God for rescuing him and all the passengers on that plane," said
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern).
Mr. Bazarian said his faith offered comfort amidst the tumult. He
was halfway through the Lord's Prayer when the plane hit water.
"It's good to have faith in God," he said. "And it worked."
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
AZG Armenian Daily
20/01/2009
Religion
"It Was Like One Big Family," says Carl Bazarian
Carl Bazarian said he and other passengers on board the Charlotte-bound
US Airways Flight 1549 "knew we were going to die" yesterday afternoon
when they realized that the jetliner was descending into the Hudson
River.
But within moments their fortunes reversed, as all 150 passengers
and five crew members safely climbed out of the floating aircraft
and awaited rescue.
"We evacuated and everyone helped each other out. It was like one big
family," Mr. Bazarian said. "A near-tragic occurrence turned into a
very positive humanitarian experience."
Bazarian, an active member of the Armenian Church and the vice chairman
of the Fund for Armenian Relief's Board of Directors, was traveling
via Charlotte to his home in Florida on Thursday, January 15.
About four minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New
York, Mr. Bazarian said, there was a loud noise followed by fire
and smoke. Passengers were "upset, but we weren't panicky or overly
concerned," he said, explaining that people assumed the pilot would
return to LaGuardia.
Instead, Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III warned passengers
to prepare for impact - and "Boom, we hit the water," Mr. Bazarian
said.
"For about 10 or 11 seconds it's surreal, but then adrenaline kicks
in," Mr. Bazarian said. Evacuees lined up along the plane's wings
and waited to be brought to shore. Those standing on the left wing
were ferried to New York. Passengers on the right wing, including
Mr. Bazarian, were taken to New Jersey.
Many were standing without winter coats in the frigid air. Mr. Bazarian
said he was wet up to his knees as the water rose around the Airbus
A320.
Still, the general mood was calm and optimistic.
"I had a good feeling when we were on the wing that we had a good
chance of surviving," Mr. Bazarian said.
The "shared experience, belief in each other, and trust" brought people
together, he added. Women and children boarded the lifeboats first,
followed by the other passengers.
"It was tense, but there was no screaming or yelling or panic,"
Mr. Bazarian said.
Officials are still investigating the crash, but initial
reports said collision with a flock of birds caused the engines to
fail. Mr. Bazarian said once passengers exited the plane, many thanked
the pilot for the expert landing.
Mr. Bazarian returned to LaGuardia yesterday evening and took another
flight to Charlotte. He arrived in Florida this morning.
"Carl is such a fine man, such an excellent leader, and we are grateful
to God for rescuing him and all the passengers on that plane," said
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern).
Mr. Bazarian said his faith offered comfort amidst the tumult. He
was halfway through the Lord's Prayer when the plane hit water.
"It's good to have faith in God," he said. "And it worked."
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)