Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, known for his heroic feat of landing a plane on the Hudson River in New York in 2009, recalled in a recent interview how air safety has improved considerably, but also warned that “everything is more difficult at night.”
In a conversation with The New York Times, the veteran pilot shared his perspective on the tragedy involving an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, near Washington, D.C., an accident that claimed the lives of 67 people.
"Sully" advised to pay close attention to aircraft lights to avoid collisions.
Sullenberger emphasized that, although aviation today is "exceptionally safe," nighttime conditions can complicate the visibility of other planes and helicopters. "The night always makes things different," he explained, highlighting that limited visibility makes it difficult to determine the location and direction of aircraft.
"Basically, all you can do is see the lights on them. You have to try to figure out: are they above you or below? How far away are they? What direction are they going?" he commented.
The accident in which an American Airlines aircraft collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River highlights the inherent dangers of night flying.
The tragedy underscores the importance of maintaining constant vigilance, even when technology has advanced significantly. “Everything is more difficult at night,” stated Sullenberger, referring to the challenging task of correctly identifying other flights during darkness.
Furthermore, the captain noted that the illumination of the terrain over the water might have further hindered the visibility of aircraft in the area.
He also mentioned that the design of older airports, such as Reagan Washington National Airport, where the accident occurred, requires additional training for pilots. This airport, built in the 1930s, has shorter runways than other facilities and experiences heavy air traffic.
The tragedy, which occurred on Wednesday night, left all occupants of both aircraft dead. Rescue teams worked tirelessly for days to recover the bodies and debris scattered across the river. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered the “black boxes” from the planes and will continue the investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident.
Sullenberger concluded his reflection by emphasizing that, despite technological advancements, it is always essential to maintain vigilance and proper training to face the challenges that aviation continues to present, especially during the most difficult conditions, such as those at night.