In what is being called a “small miracle on the Hudson,” a young helicopter pilot responded expertly to losing engine power at 1,500 feet. He was touring 4 Swedes over the river when he heard the engine go out. His instincts kicked in, and he deftly landed the helicopter in the water. All passengers escaped without a scratch.
“I’m not a hero, I’m just a tour pilot,” said Michael Campbell, who is the youngest tourist helicopter pilot in the city. “There are many great pilots on the river that would have done the exact same thing.”
Others are less modest regarding the pilot’s ability to land the helicopter when the engine went out.
“Whoever that pilot is has to be a remarkable pilot with nerves of steel,” said Stefan Kaplan, when interviewed by New York Daily News.
“It’s almost like when two cars hit each other,” said Campbell. “My training kicked in and I did what I had to do.”
Not only did his instincts kick in, but the Swedish family did great as well. “The family was really calm, everyone was really gold,” he told Ripa. “They got real quiet, they braced for impact. The father was really great, he was really quick to respond.”
In short, a deft and well handled avoidance of catastrophe.