Do you feel this is enough?

[bicker]

If there is no evidence of negligence, then this settlement is very generous.

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't think I'd want my luggage back after it sat in the Hudson overnight.
I do agree, if, as reported it was a bird strike then it was an accident. $5,000 is more then enough, plus you also get the cost of your ticket back.

I agree. I would be happy with that.

 

[Feralpeg]

I have been through a few near misses. Just to name one, I worked on the 97th floor of the WTC building struck first on 9/11. 295 friends and co-workers died that fateful morning. I am alive today because of a business trip to Dallas that very morning. My flight landed just as the plane struck.

I have lived a blessed life, and so will these people now. But for the grace of God, they would be dead. My advice, take the money and live life anew. Who cares if there was negligence? The only thing that really matters is that you are all alive!


And for those out there who haven't had a near miss, don't wait for one. You too can know the true joy of life. You don't have to survive cancer or some disaster to learn to appreciate each and every day that you get...

Nice post! I wish more people viewed life this way!

 

[Oreo Cookie]

I would be more than happy with that settlement. It was an accident due to a flock of birds. I would be eternally grateful to the pilot and his crew for saving my life as well as my fellow passengers and the emergency response personnel.

 

[lemondog]

I would be satisfied. Unless I had something in my luggage valued at more than $5000. Then I would demand the money to replace it. I agree this was an accident and they are very lucky to be alive.

 

[bicker]

Word of advice: Folks who carry luggage/contents worth more than $3500 should take out separate insurance on their luggage/contents.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Shouldn't people just be happy that they are alive? Come on now. I think ANYONE who has lost a loved one from a plane crash would want to slap anyone who thought $5,000 wasn't enough. These people have their lives and $5,000. When is enough enough? People are really petty and greedy.

Look what this pilot did. What are the chances another pilot could do the same in the same situation? We don't know. All we can do is say thank you that everyone came off safely and no one on the ground got hurt. Shouldn't that be enough?

They shouldbe happy abotu the $5,000. It isn't the company's fault that the flock of birds flew into them. Who can control that?

 

[C.Ann]

It would certainly be more than enough for me - and actually, quite unexpected!!

 

[chisnpeke]

I would be satisfied. Unless I had something in my luggage valued at more than $5000. Then I would demand the money to replace it. I agree this was an accident and they are very lucky to be alive.

If you are carrying something in checked luggage, you should have had it insured. To check something of that value without insuring it would be very irresponsible and I don't feel the airline would owe you anything if the accident was a complete accident.

To answer the original question, I think $5,000 is enough for my life. They hired a wonderful pilot and crew and they would have my gratitude.

 

[disney1990]

$5,000 would be enough for me -- that and my life!

 

[Mom21]

For those that think the airline is holding the baggage you may not be aware that it is the gov holding the stuff. FAA and NTSB. It takes years to investigate some accidents. I can guarantee the gov isn't going to send the passengers' suits out for drycleaning. They are lucky to get what they are getting.....specifically their lives.

 

[Linzybrooke]

I would just be happy to be alive and be able to hug my husband and family again.

 

[crz4mm2]

Personally, yes, I think it was enough.

Will most of the passengers, I don't think so. They will sue and drive prices even higher than they are!

 

[manning]

But in our modern tort system, "someone" should always be at fault - preferrably "someone" with very deep pockets.

I guess that leaves the geese out. They have no....pockets

 

[Buckeye Gal]

I doubt I can't add any fresh commentary to what's already been said, but I still want to express my own thoughts on the view of the interviewee as well as comments made on here.

The person the OP is quoted hearing on the news didn't make any reference to "what if", rather "for what they went through, no it's not enough". This perspective annoys the heck out of me. Seriously humans, get your perspectives and priorities in order!

I'm not even sure that if there was negligence found that I would think I am "entitled" to monetary compensation. Accidents do happen, and no money would bring back a dead loved one or make life better for a survivor. Having a fulfilled life is the responsibility of each one of us, and that's the greatest reward. I think we should make the most of what we have and be thankful that we are here to accept the gift of life and the blessings that we accept...not the number of zeros to the left of the decimal point on my general ledger.

If I even TRY to imagine being one of these passengers....

Would I be angry that they're temporarily keeping my luggage?

No!

I would want them to do a complete investigation, which includes the contents of what was on the plane. I certainly would not want others to go through the same experience, or even worse, loose their life because the FAA didn't do a thorough investigation.

Furthermore, if I had valuables on the plane, they're probably not so important to me anymore. Sure...maybe my great-grandmother's pearl necklace was on the plane, but I will eventually get it back...and again....I'd rather take the "present" of life behind Door #1 than a memory of the past behind Door #2.​

Do I think the $5K covers the trauma I went through?

Priceless. This life altering event is priceless. I would be thankful that I and my family have me around. I was given LIFE by Captain Sullenburger and his crew. THAT is what's ultimately priceless.​

The responsiblity on Captian Sullenburger's shoulders and heart to get that plane down as gently as possible on that afternoon is beyond imaginable. He really is a hero in the purest form of the word.

 

[CookieGVB]

$5K should be more than enough to compensate any "normal" traveller. And would you really want luggage back that's been floating in the Hudson River? Have you SEEN the Hudson River? Not to mention that the fuel must have started to leak out...bleh - keep the luggage - just give me my ID back

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

That would be more than generous. My life would have been enough for me.

I lost two family friends on Flight 800 when I was still very young. Since then I have been extremely phobic of flying. I have only flown one round trip, and let's just say we decided it wasn't worth the stress. I have seen the aftermath of a deadly accident first hand. That funeral is the first funeral I attended that I remember. I remember seeing the outpouring of grief for the twin sisters from our community that were lost.

Those people were luckier than they may ever know. It sounds like this was simply an act of God if it is indeed as reported. Accidents happen. You thank God for bringing you out to the other side, thank the pilot and the crew for keeping you alive, and you go home and hug your family. Don't look at it as an opportunity to get rich quick and never work again. Be grateful for you life, that is enough.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

Enough!

I'd use that $ and take the Pilot out for one heck of a Dinner!

Totally agree. I wouldn't care about the money or luggage. I would be happy I was alive and happy that US Airways hired such a great pilot.

 

[TheZue]

Even if it was the airlines fault how much money are they really out? Nobody died...most of the times in large crashes people sue because they have lost future income. The people on that plane are really out their luggage and maybe a few days of work. So if they wanted to wait through three years of the TSB deciding to release their final report and moving their way through the court system it's not like they are going to get a whole lot more...some of them maybe even less depending what they were traveling with and how much they earned at their job. They should take the money and just move on and be happy they are alive.

 

[legalsea]

The money sounds fair to me.

However, knowing human nature, I predict that we shall see the following lawsuits:

1. Passengers filing against the airline.
2. Passengers filing against the pilot and co-pilot.
3. Passengers filing against the errant birds.
4. Passengers filing against the Hudson River Authority.
5. Passengers filing against New York City.
6. Witnesses to the crash-landing filing against the airline for intentional infliction of emotional stress.
7. Birds filing against the airline.
8. Birds filing against the passengers.
9. New York City filing against the airline.
10. Passengers, birds, airline and New York City all filing against David Letterman, since he probably has the most wealth of anyone on the list.

I'm sure that I have missed some lawsuits, so others can help out here.