MercatorNet: 'Sully', the movie. Video games vs work. Israel's Yemenite scandal. | MercatorNet

Inevitably a plane crash or emergency landing leads to an investigation of what went wrong. But the "Miracle on the Hudson" that enabled Captain "Sully" Sullenberger to land US Airways Flight 1549 on the river without loss of life of a single one of the 155 souls on board, is an object lesson in how things went right, according to our lead article today. This is now an important part of safety science, say the authors.

I am often struck by irrationality of people who think that nothing should ever go wrong, whether with a flight or a piece of surgery. Airlines have to protect their brand by trying to nail down "a root cause or a bad apple" to reassure people that it won't happen again. But accidents will happen. What matters then is the skill and nerve of the person in charge. Sully was one out of the bag, it seems.

Then there is the "miracle" factor -- things undreamed of by technicians, instructors and even operators themselves, but still real. We can always hope for that, and I have no doubt that at least some of those on board Flight 1549 were praying for it. Wonder if that's in the movie...

Carolyn Moynihan
Deputy Editor,
MERCATORNET

‘We’re gonna be in the Hudson’ By Paul Salmon, Nicholas Stevens and Eryn Grant Why the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ in Clint Eastwood's new movie 'Sully' was no crash landing Read the full article

 

 

Are video games killing work for young men? By Carolyn Moynihan Lower-skilled men in their 20s increased leisure time by four hours a week in the last 15 years. Read the full article

 

 

The bleak story of Israel’s Yemenite children By Michael Cook The government is investigating a scandal about kidnapped babies Read the full article

 

 

Duterte’s Obama insult was shameful – but the West has turned a blind eye to much, much worse By Tom Smith Why is the Philippines only noticed in time of disaster? Read the full article

 

 

More traditional gender roles, more sex By Nicole M. King Swedes are having less sex, according to a recent report. A study suggests one reason. Read the full article

 

 

Mind the Gap: the decline of marriage in Ireland By David Quinn As elsewhere, the rich are getting married and the unmarried are getting poorer. Read the full article

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