“If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing ...” - the late Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, U.S. Air Force

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While miracles happen every day - the birth of a child, unexplained recovery from “terminal” cancer - there are few miracles that make the local news, let alone the national news.

The first image that may come to mind is the “Miracle on the Hudson,” the photo of dozens of people standing on the wing of a plane slowly sinking into the Hudson River Jan. 15, 2009. On that date, Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III was captain of US Airways Flight 1549, which had taken off from LaGuardia Airport.

The Airbus struck a flock of Canada geese and lost power in both engines. Sullenberger miraculously piloted the plane to a water landing in the Hudson River, and all 155 people on board survived.

Now, in the minds of many, is the image of a downed LifeNet Eurocopter resting on it side next to the steps of Drexel Hill United Methodist Church near Philadelphia. This “miraculous” crash occurred around 1 p.m. Jan. 11.

Inside the medical helicopter, which was transporting a 2-month-old baby girl from WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, was pilot Danial Moore, an Army veteran; Flight Medic Kevin Chaffee; and Flight Nurse Kris Lawson. By the grace of God, Moore was able to bring down the helicopter, avoiding houses, businesses and power lines. But, don’t ask him how he did it. He doesn’t remember.

“I had God as my co-pilot that day,” Moore said upon his discharge from the hospital on Sunday. “We took care of the crew and landed in His front yard.”

Moore gave credit to the medical crew for saving the baby.

“The guys in the back saved the baby,” Moore said. “God at least was partly in control. I just drive the bus. The heroes are in the back taking care of the patient.”

Moore also downplayed his role as hero and gave thanks to, as he called them, the everyday heroes.

“Thank you to all,” he said. “Thank you to the firefighters, the first responders, the Uber driver (actually the Lyft driver, who took the baby from Chaffee to safety), the hospital staff and the nurses.”

I think Yeager would agree: God and pilot Moore pulled off “a good landing.”

Deb Palmieri

editor

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press