The True Story Behind the Jet Plane Crash Into the Hudson River

We’ve all read about or seen the story on TV but are you getting the truth? The so-called “bird strike” that occurred Thursday was actually a plane strike. A bird did not cause a jet plane to crash Thursday into the Manhattan Hudson River. Rather, a jet plane caused the demise of two birds. So the question that really should be asked is how could an airliner down a little flying animal?

Ignore the reports that claim that >200 people have died as a result of “bird strikes” since 1988 for they paint an incomplete picture. Indeed, a kill rate of 10 people per year pales in comparison to a kill rate of 5,000 birds per year but you never hear mention of that sad fact.

The reports erroneously claim that the birds “strike” or “impact” aircraft when in truth they are simply going about their natural business of flying when, through no fault of their own, a vacuum-like force sucks them into the path of metal blades whirring at thousands of rpms. Another false claim is that there were no deaths or serious injuries. Are you kidding me? Are the 2 or more geese that were forced into the path of 2 destructive engines simply going about their daily lives at this moment? Or is it more likely that they are not even fit for the Christmas dinner table? In the same breath, you will hear that the birds’ carcasses (if they can even be called that) are called snarge (lovely picture that paints huh?) when just paragraphs before there was a claim of no serious injury.

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Do these images say trivial, inconsequential injury to you?

Furthermore, they go on to say that airplanes are certified to continue flying after an impact with a bird of around 4lbs. Doesn’t that make you wonder when birds are going to be certified to continue flying after an impact with a 30,000lb object doing 150 mph? And they call flocks of birds dangerous? Oh yes, birds are very dangerous to aircraft, well I wonder what aircraft are to birds then, a slight nuisance perhaps? And it pains me to no end to read about the delicate composition of engines. Hmmm…big honking pieces of metal versus feathers, oh yes, metal definitely very delicate.

But there’s more, you can also read that the birds “took out” both engines. Yup, birds are pulverized, engines are dysfunctional but repairable, and it’s the engine that was “taken out.” Impeccable logic. But rest assured, airports do take precautionary measures to keep those delicate planes safe from those terrorist birds by avoiding planting trees that can be used as nesting areas. Too bad they can’t do much about avoiding the air that can be used as flying areas.

All comedy aside though, it’s important to note that there are two sides to every story. The air is a bird’s natural habitat, not ours. A little humility and recognition on our part could do both species some good. This story is made possible by the serendipitous survival of all humans aboard US Airways flight 1549. May you all live on to eat as many a Christmas goose as you desire.

The original article that spawned this narrative can be found at MSNBC

Thank you for your time and your thoughtful consideration.

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versus

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Which is more delicate?

You decide!