#SelfieSunday

2014-09-21

#SelfieSunday with Denise Lockie, Miracle on the Hudson Survivor

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Written by: Denise Lockie
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 My love of travel and flying started at any early age, flying from DTW to LGA. When experiencing delays began the adrenalin rush, I knew flying was for me. I loved to watch the people boarding, dressed to the nines and wondering where they were traveling. My best friend in grade school’s sister started working for American Airlines after she graduated from college. It was her career for several decades, and she always had the most fascinating stories.

I was fortunate to travel all over the United States for pleasure and business, racking up millions of miles and having the luxury of using those upgrades we all have come to love. Flying on Dash-8’s, MD-80’s, Boeings, an occasional seaplane, several private aircraft, and my personal favorite, Airbus.

Business travel changed drastically after 9/11. I recall going to the airport and looking down the corridors, where there weren’t any passengers. The first flights afterward were surreal, with passengers and crew being very respectful of one another. There was an outpouring of kindness; everyone’s heart and minds were full of the tragic events in 2001.

My week would start early on Monday, with my destination changing weekly. I loved flying to New York City, which was my home away from home and I felt as though I knew no other city better. After my client meetings, I would walk endlessly from Wall Street to Midtown, uncovering new restaurants, galleries and shops.

The year 2009 was the start of a whirlwind year for me. The company I worked for was acquired the previous June, and the reorganization was in full gear, not knowing from one day to the next how many people would be let go. I knew that I had to channel all of my energy into survival mode. There wasn’t any way I could have predicted the worse economic recession I have experienced in my lifetime. My father said it was worse than the Great Depression, and I believed him because he lived through the 1920s.

My second trip of 2009 started out in New York City. I was staying on West 44th Street and had several client meetings, with my last meeting on Wall Street, afterwards having dinner. I remember going back to my hotel and thinking how cold the night air was.

Thursday morning I awoke to snow and frigid temperatures. Packing and heading home, I received a call from the airline letting me know the flight was delayed due to weather. Making several business calls and determining my departure time for LGA, I headed out around noon. Snow was still coming down, and knowing New York, I thought it was going to be a long day.

Arriving at LGA and grabbing a bite to eat, I walked down to the gate, the same gate that I flew out of so many times before. As I was looking at the monitors, there appeared to be a gate change and I high-tailed it over to the opposite side of the terminal and waited to board US Airways Flight 1549. Walking down the jet bridge I was shivering, as it turned out January 15th was the coldest day of 2009. I watched everyone board and paid special attention to the family with an infant and little girl — everyone else appeared to be a business traveler. The rest of Flight 1549 is history and I am one of the 150 passengers and 5 crew that were able to walk away and live to tell their story.

My interest in aviation became very strong after Flight 1549 for obvious reasons. Four weeks to the day Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York while I was on a business trip in Tampa. The images are very clear to me and I had difficulty understanding why we survived. Meeting Captain Sullenberger, First Officer Skiles, FA’s Doreen Walsh, Shelia Dahl & Donna Dent was very important to me, not only to thank them but to honor them as a crew.

I attended the NTSB hearing,s as many passengers did, as a learning experience and became involved with National Air Disaster Alliance (NADA). NADA has opened the door for me to meet survivors of other aviation disasters as well as families and loved ones from Flight 175, Flight 77, Flight 93, Flight 11, Flight 3407, Flight 5191 and so many other tragic crashes. There is a very strong bond, and it is hard to explain at times, however we know that we have a support group that is very unique.

The majority of my experiences since Flight 1549 have been uneventful. I have had a few diversions into LGA – via PHL and a secondary emergency landing in 2010. Although my flying is different today, there are memories of Flight 1549 and there are fears that I simply cannot explain.

My interests will always be about living life to the fullest; film, theatre, arts, museum’s, great food and wine and my very special family. My unconditional love for the water and fascination that I have today about aviation, it has become a part of me. Actually, aviation defines me as a person, and I am always increasing my knowledge to better understand.

BONUS Question: Sully…hero or just a talented pilot that happened to be in the right place at the right time to get the job done?

Sully is and will always be my hero. As well as Jeff, there were so many things that went right, with the skill set, communications with Patrick [Harten, Air Traffic Controller], weather conditions, time of day, etc. Everything was working in our favor, not to mention it was the best “Feel Good” story of the year. I don’t like to think of another outcome, because I have had those conversations and I know in my heart of hearts it was dire. To be a part of another event after 9/11 in New York City, was the first thing that came to mind during the flight…



About the Author

Denise Lockie





 
 

 

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  • Jason Hodgkiss

    Denise, thank you for your insight as a passenger.

    Sully is a hero in that he had prepared his whole life for that level of training, when it comes to applying it, fated forced it’s hand and he came out alive, most hero’s will die trying (NYFD has 343 of them from 9/11) that is why we celebrate those who survive and make other survivors!

    I have question for you in return, how do airlines treat you as a passenger since any special considerations?

    .. and have you flown with Jeff or Sully since?