Upon Landing; "I'm Alive", Upon The Water; "Will I Sink?"
(New York-1/17/2009 3:01 A.M.)
http://www.asahi.com/international/update/0117/TKY200901160354.html
"The water gathered at my feet as I took shelter". One passenger aboard the US Airways flight which crashed into the Hudson River, Japanese employee Kanau Deguchi (23 years old) talks about the minutes of fear being involved in the incident.
Not long after the takeoff, Mr. Deguchi said he heard a Boom sound. It was the third engine behind his seat. The cabin crew looked around. They smelled a burning odor in the air and the other passengers said "It's on fire" in an uproar. People were nervous but didn't think it was terrorism.
The plane was stable, the only thing he remembered about the pilot was his message "Prepare for impact".
Outside the window, he noticed the Manhattan buildings and he realized that they were losing altitude. Afterward his head went blank and grasped his hands on the seat in front of him.
On the instant of landing, he could only feel the rough shock of the landing. "I thought it was totally unreal but I could feel I was alive". However, after that the real fear set in.
Water quickly entered through the back of the plane. It soon gathered at his feet. Would he sink along with the plane? Inside the plane, chaos fell. The passengers rushed toward the emergency exits past the seats. About 20 people crammed into a 4 person boat. In the end, what was left was wallets and cell phones. Deguchi's beloved laptop sunk with into the river.
He was separated from his superior, Yuuki Takikawa (43 years old) but was glad to see his face once again at the end. Both were glad that each other was safe.
"I truly am grateful to the pilot. He made a small error but averted a huge disaster." When asked if he would ride planes from now on, he said: "I'll quickly be on a business flight the week after next" with a bitter smile.
Asahi Shinbun
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