Giving props to the US Airways Fl 1549’s co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles

I had been wondering about the co-pilot since my eyes were glued to the news broadcasts on Thursday, January 15, 2009.  In the days and weeks following thi incident all the attention has gone to the birds (no pun intended) and the pilot.  I want to write this post to bring attention to co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles from Oregon, Wisconsin (I know, the city/state threw me for a loop for a second, too.) who had an equal hand in ensuring the safety of the passengers on that cold, frightful day.  He’s been a pilot with US Airways for 23 years and flying since he was a teenager.  Jeffrey is married with 3 children ages 12 yrs, 15 yrs, and 17 yrs old who were grateful to have him arrive home safe and alive.

From the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel (Barbara Skiles is Jeffrey’s wife)…

CO-PILOT BRAVED FRIGID WATERS TO RETRIEVE VESTS FOR PASSENGERS

The water in the Hudson River was so cold that Jeffrey Skiles’ legs were immediately numb, Barbara Skiles said.

Skiles said her husband, 49, walked through the plane to find more life vests for people who had exited without them. The quick response from New York City’s police and fire departments, as well as ferries and other boats that helped bring passengers to safety, was a key reason no one was killed, she said.

Everyone one, with the grace of God, did their part that day, and it’s so easy to just focus on one person or the few passengers that jumped in front of the media.  In my mind, Jeffrey Skiles is a hero, too.

See also my post USAIRWAYS AIRBUS MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING IN HUDSON RIVER