1.15.26 – Denise Lockie, ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Survivor, Joins APFA to Oppose FAA Minimum Crew Reductions

Denise Lockie, ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Survivor, Joins APFA to Oppose FAA Minimum Flight Attendant Crew Reductions

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Seventeen years ago today, US Airways flight 1549 made an emergency water landing in the icy waters of the Hudson River after losing thrust in both engines due to a bird strike shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

We honor the crew whose skill and courage saved every life on board. Charlotte-based Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Donna Dent, and Doreen Welsh, and Charlotte-based Pilots Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, proved that trained, fully staffed crews make all the difference.

Their heroism is a sobering reminder that recent reductions in FAA-mandated minimum Flight Attendant requirements put passenger and crew safety at risk.

(L to R): Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, CLT-based Flight Attendants Doreen Welsh, Donna Dent, Sheila Dail, and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles.

Denise Lockie, a survivor of the flight that became known as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ and a dedicated aviation safety advocate, has joined with APFA in calling for airlines to staff a well-trained Flight Attendant at every exit door on widebody aircraft—just as those aircraft were originally certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The video detailing Lockie’s perspective and Flight Attendants’ stance on adequate minimum crew requirements is available for viewing by clicking the image below.

“Flight 1549 passenger Denise Lockie’s story is a powerful reminder that without adequate FAA-mandated minimum crew staffing, the outcome could have been very different,” said Julie Hedrick, President of APFA. “In an emergency, profits don’t save passengers; Flight Attendants do.”

As a crash survivor, Lockie brings a powerful personal perspective to the issue. She has become a respected safety advocate who consistently emphasizes the life-saving role of Flight Attendants as aviation’s first responders in the cabin.

“Flight Attendants were vital to our survival– they were diligent, they remained calm and they directed us to do exactly what we needed to do in a time of panic, trauma and fear,” Denise said. “Their presence and proper staffing is life or death, as far as I’m concerned.”

APFA has joined with elected representatives and passenger safety advocates to emphasize the importance of staffing aircraft the way the FAA had certified them to meet the mandate that all passengers must be able to exit the aircraft in 90 seconds in the event of an emergency.

“Denise’s voice reminds us why the fight against minimum Flight Attendant crew reduction matters,” Hedrick said. “Safer skies depend on respecting the critical safety role of Flight Attendants — on every flight, and at every exit.”