TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement on the crash of US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson River:

“Yesterday we had a remarkable event occur that Governor Paterson so aptly described as the miracle on the Hudson.  It was an outcome that is almost unimaginable for that kind of event.  It really encompassed an enormous amount of people’s commitment to preparation and training for circumstances that can’t always be foreseen.  Certainly, Captain Sullenberger and his staff were absolutely remarkable.

“New Jersey is proud of the work of NY Waterway, a company based right here in Weehawken.  Their first response was to make sure that those who were on that plane were looked after immediately.  Then, obviously the work of the first responders – the New Jersey State Police, the New York Police Department, and the Port Authority of NY/NJ.  They all came together in a remarkable way to make sure that a life was not lost.

“To go through such a blessed event when 155 lives were saved is something that should warm our hearts.  I also want to thank all the hospitals involved.  I believe 56 of the passengers went to hospitals in New Jersey.  We are very grateful for their work.”

Last night, Governor Corzine visited injured passengers at Jersey City Medical Center and Palisades Medical Center and made the following statement:

“This is one of those times where everyone in the community came together starting with the pilot to do an extraordinary deed to get that plane down.  I just heard the stories of how people worked together inside the plane.  It was obviously chaotic, but people really pitched in to help each other.  The response of the civilians on the NY Waterway is remarkable.  Fourteen boats got there within a matter of minutes.  Obviously, the first responders did a great job.  Everyone came together to do a fantastic job.

“I think this is one of those really outstanding good news stories for not only the lives said, but the efforts of one group of people trying to help another get through.  That is one heck of a good spirited group of people that survived.  Having come through one of those crashes where you think the lights might go out I can tell you there are a whole group of people who feel blessed to see the sun come up tomorrow.

“I saw the little boy and the little girl and they are healthy.  The thing that the mom said is that there were people in the plane who helped her manage her children.  A guy in the seat next to her held the baby during the crash.  There were another couple of people who went out of their way to make sure that she was effectively protected.  If you want stories that warm your heart this is one where people really pull together.  This was exactly one of those situations.  So much of life seems more mundane than it should be.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)