Tech Topics - Spring 2009 - (Page 21) BURDELL & FRIENDS Hudson River, but I’m fine.” I told her I needed to to send text messages, because they thought they From my vantage point — I was in 4D, the first deal with the ferries, and I’d call her back. I asked her weren’t going to make it. row of coach — I couldn’t see out. People in the back to start making phone calls to let our relatives know I I never had that feeling. I felt like I might not, but could see the engine on fire. That would’ve changed was OK. After a couple minutes she calmed down. I I knew I had a chance. Like I said, I’m an optimist. It my view. said, “Unless my boat sinks, I’m going to be fine.” turned out I had a lot more time. But there was no abject fear. There was no loud screaming. The only yelling was when the plane actually hit the water. I didn’t really do anything. The You thought the plane would sink? What happened over the rest of the day? only thing the pilot said was, “Brace for impact.” And The whole way down I thought it was going to We stayed at the ferry terminal about three hours the flight attendants started shouting, “Brace! Brace! sink. It was just a question of whether it would be before they let us go. They were very focused on Brace!” pretty fast or really fast. I knew it was going down, making sure everybody had made it out at first. The landing felt like any other until the nose of and I figured a lot of people wouldn’t make it, but I Initially the plane seemed to be going down pretty the plane came down and we hit the water. My head had a decent shot. fast. It was weird. We were on the raft, and you still got bounced off the bulkhead, leaving me with a big didn’t know if somebody was hurt and wouldn’t knot. I was sitting a long ways from it, so I don’t make it out. But then it stopped sinking, and That had to be strange, going from such know how it happened. We hit really hard. everybody was out. an intense experience on the airplane to It took a day or two At the terminal, to remember this, but there were a hundred when we hit the water, or more first everybody yelled. responders making There were two or sure we had blankets three more significant and coffee. The Red bounces. Then I stood Cross showed up with up, and it felt very, very sweatshirts and pants low. I could see we were — and dry socks. That sitting on the water. You was the best thing in know how when you the world for the get on a plane you feel people who’d gotten really elevated? This felt wet. I didn’t, but the very low. people who went out I took a couple onto the wing did. steps up and saw people I gave my grabbing life jackets and information 15 or 20 grabbing seat cushions. I times. Medical people grabbed my seat kept asking if we were cushion and couldn’t OK. I literally was find my life jacket. fine. They’re under the seat, but I thought it was Your head wasn’t under the cushion. Then hurt too badly? I came to the front of the It was a big knot, plane and went out the but it wasn’t bleeding. right door. I don’t know My head hurt, but I if I was directed that didn’t care. There way or just went out. were a few people Both of them were open. who needed to be The flight attendant stitched up or had was yelling for help to broken bones. One open the door, which lady had a lot of was only partially open. medical personnel Charles Spiggle enjoys a relaxed moment with his wife, Kelly, IntA 93, children Caroline and Jackson and their puppy. I helped her push it around her. open and went out on Everyone was in the slide raft. I was out probably 30 seconds after the a group inside yellow police tape. Mayor Bloomberg the calm of being out on the river. plane hit the water. showed up. Governor Patterson showed up. People It was very strange. I remember looking back at were talking with survivors. “Where were you? What the plane and thinking that’s my plane, sitting on the did you see?” We did that for like two and a half water. I can’t believe I was in a plane crash and made Backtracking a little, I know it was very hours. it out. quick from when you realized the plane People were saying, “We’re fine, we’re fine.” A would land in the water and when it woman next to me was kind of panicking. The How soon did you make it back home? happened, but do you remember what Intrepid museum was right about where we crashed I ended up staying that night. Wachovia really you were thinking in those seconds? — the aircraft carrier. I figured we could make it to did a good job. The COO of the investment bank was What I remember thinking was we’re going to that, if we had to. in touch with me really quickly. “Is there anything land in the water, and I’ve got a decent chance of And then shortly thereafter, people yelled that a you need?” I got 50 e-mails asking that. They made getting out of the plane unless the plane comes apart. ferry was on the way. And there were 20 ferries there me a reservation for a hotel room and got the I can keep my head. I can get out of the plane. I have immediately. corporate jet to get us the next day. Two of the guys I a wife and two kids. I had my cell phone and wallet in my pocket — work with a lot were in touch with me. I kept saying, It finally stopped moving, and I just moved. usually I don’t, but for some reason I had both — and “I’m fine.” But my BlackBerry started to die, so I said People in the back of the plane later said they were I called my wife and said, “My plane crashed in the I could use a BlackBerry charger and a coat. I came sure they weren’t going to make it. They were trying “What I remember thinking was I can get out of the plane. I can keep my head. I have a wife and two kids.” TechTopics | Spring 2009 21
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