Sully’s Skill Versus The Automation Trap

Describes two major aviation incidents, each illustrating how crew skill, technology, and system failures can shape the outcome of a flight.
The first case recounts the Miracle on the Hudson involving US Airways Flight 1549. Shortly after takeoff, both engines failed due to a severe bird strike. The pilots responded quickly and skillfully, successfully ditching the aircraft in the Hudson River. The incident highlights the crew’s training, decision-making under extreme pressure, and the coordinated rescue efforts that saved all aboard.
The second account examines the crash of Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 near Amsterdam. A faulty radio altimeter fed incorrect data to the aircraft’s autopilot and auto-throttle systems, causing the engines to reduce power during a critical landing phase. The combination of automation errors and pilot challenges contributed to the fatal outcome, emphasizing the complexities of modern cockpit technology and human-machine interaction.
Together, these events underline how thorough investigations, procedural improvements, and technological safeguards are essential to understanding accidents and enhancing aviation safety.


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