Right Next Door: Patrick Harten, Air-Traffic Controller "Miracle on the Hudson" 

Mr. Harten, I am a former YVR employee. There was a third person, in spirit, in that cockpit besides Captain Sullenberger and First Officer Skiles. That person was you Sir. You did a fantastic job.

Dude, I worked for your agency's OIG and looked into ATC issues. You did an amazing job. You get an emergency call, all you can do is clear the airspace so they get back ASAP. I heard a recording from JFK where the pilot declared an emergency three times before finally saying this is what I'm doing, get everyone out of my way. You basically cleared this guy for a landing at three airports in a minute or so. That is your job and the most you can do.

The recordings that most don't hear were his calls just before the plane hit the water. He made sure that everyone, knew, right away. A real hero. A wonderful interview.

Watch Patrick's testimony to congress. I love how he included his roller coaster emotions in his testimony. His is a very hard job and a very human job. Hats off to Mr. Harter.

I give him a ton of credit, he gave them every runway possible.

He spent like 45 minutes thinking he was the last person to talk to a flight that almost everyone (if not everyone) died before someone thought to tell him. Imagine the weight of that on your psyche. Not surprising everyone involved had PTSD symptoms after.

The ' miracle ' was that everyone was prepared for their task at hand. The pilot and co-pilot, the flight attendants, the ATC, the rescue boat crews, everybody was PREPARED. Through exercises and daily drilling, they all worked together to achieve the outcome. Brilliant!

Biggest pro in the history or air traffic controlling game. RESPECT

It's interesting to hear that he was evaluating Sully's stress level by the tone of his voice and was surprised at the calmness because Harten himself sounded unnaturally calm as if what he had been told was routine. His responses were accurate, fast and clear though which is what counts.

This guy's face should be plastered everywhere on St. Patty's day- for real. The job they have to do is INSANE. The juggling and multitasking - hardest job in the world. I have the utmost respect for air traffic controllers. You guys are unreal 👏 #champions 🏆

"Someone should tell paddy that everyone survived", " Nah let him stew for a bit longer"

Mr. Harten, you're an American Hero! You did the best job and you were totally professional. God bless you. ❤

You did everything right. The pilots did everything right. The First Responders and other rescuers did everything right. This was the perfect convergence of the right people in the right jobs doing exactly what they should have been doing down to the wire. And as a result, 155 people and their families remained united after Jan 15, 2009.

As a former airline mechanic I want to thank the professionals that work ATC, training kicked in and he went on autopilot to work the problem.

Every superhero has their "chair guy". Pat is Sully and Skiles' chairguy. Right on, brother.

He definitely played a key role.. even though the plane ended up in the water, he was calm and gave quick, clear responses so the flight crew could evaluate all their options.

The actor that played Patrick in the movie is SO much like him, especially behavior and voice.

This man is the ultimate professional. Inspirational and a true hero on that day.

This guy did an amazing job that day too. We don’t often think about people involved other than Sully or Jeff, but everyone connected to that flight did an amazing job that day.

The controllers are the unsung heroes in aviation circles.... bless them all..

You are a great man, Mr. Harten. You handled the crisis very professionally. Glad to hear that you have finally "returned to normal", as you yourself said. May you have clear skies ahead, always.

I want this man at my side should I need anything. Fabulous demeanor. You did everything 100% right.

Who the hell gives this a thumbs down?!!!! What a cool guy - very professional and calm.

Awesome story. Controllers are quite the breed.

After hearing the recordings of ATC, it's clear that Patrick did a very good job indeed that day.

Have full respect for this guy, the size of the job, the weight of the pressure on a day to day basis must be enormous. And what makes a great professional is when things go wrong and you keep calm and you know what you need to do and put these actions into place to see the job done under such pressure. Well done the world needs more like you.

You, sir did a phenomenal thing. Bless your heart. Thank you. But I cannot believe that nobody let you know the outcome for 45 minutes! That ain't right.

Ian Spanier, I agree; extraordinary individuals walk among us. The gentleman who lived across the street from me (he died about 25 years ago) was a survivor of the WWII Bataan Death March. Frequently, before I left for work, I'd join him in the mornings, sitting in folding chairs in front of his open garage and just talk. Those individuals are most assuredly among us.

If Patrick and I ever cross paths in a restaurant or bar it will be my privilege to pick-up his tab. Job well done sir.

Patty did everything right. He stayed calm, professional, and to the point. Obviously he was terrified when told “we’re gonna be in the Hudson” because until then, water landings were crashes with multiple fatalities, if 100% fatality rate.

3:00 Great job. The guy is faster than himself and doesn't know it

He is a hero, and the ice in his veins is incredible.

Mr. Harten did an amazing job, keeping his focus on the job, and his emotion showed as Sully said "We're gonna be in the Hudson".

Hero as well. Great job under extreme circumstances, did his very best to consider all the options and keep it together.

The toll it took on these guys breaks my heart.....but good job well done to Sully, Skiles and Harten.

There are perfectly good reasons why Sully was the face of that miracle. But it's equally clear that countless things clicked that day, some from luck, a great deal from training. Like all the crew, Harten played a crucial role. Hats off to one of the many heroes of that day!

"a lot slower than normal" "departures coming about every minute..." That's a lots of planes!

You are an incredible young man. You were beyond professional. All the other ATC that offered assistance, same thing for all of them. It was all your training and experience that made whatever that flight needed possible. Thank you doesn't seem enough but it is all the words that come to say. Thank you.

My hubby was a air traffic controller while in the Marine Corps. This was an amazing glorious wonderful moment in American and world history! So thankful that you were in the tower! Praise be JESUS CHRIST that this was and is a miracle!!!!

This guy did everything he could and he shouldn't feel guilty at all, whether if the US Airways flight 1549 made it or not. Thank goodness the flight did make it.

Much respect to this man and his professionalism. He has a bad day at work and people die, not many people can relate.

Those 45 minutes might as well have been an excruciatingly, brutal lifetime.

I’ve wondered about who the real ATC was on that flight! He’s a genuine guy with a heart of gold & actually cares about people whether he knows them or not! He’s also very very good at his job! Need more folks like this in the world! Thanks for sharing!

It's 13 years now!

I just couldn't imagine being an ATC. Much respect to the good ones like this guy out there. Our lives are in their hands.

Fantasticly skilled air traffic controller, kudos !! At 5:07 he probably meant the Ethiopian Airlines crash at The Comoros

Great insight into how all of us can react to stressful situations, both during and after.

Thank you Pat.

Wow, impressive individual.

His problem solving skills are outstanding. Amazing human being!

You're amazing & a Hero just like the entire flight crew.

A hero on its own.

Please bear in mind: An air traffic controller has to keep MORE THAN ONE plane on his screens and in his observation. This particular man, air traffic controller Patrick Harten, had not only to watch what was going on in the sky above him, he also had to MAKE A DECISSION on what he could and should report back to a Captain whose plain was "without thrust in both engines". I think he did everthing right as far as a human being can do in such a situation. -- Hans Rosenthal (A.H.R.D.)

Such an amazing guy. I just saw the movie, I imagined myself on the same situation as this guy and... shit! He's one of my heroes.

Outstanding interview! Well done and deep insight.

An amazing young man. I hope he gets his wish and never has another serious incident.

it took me 12 years to get over vietnam you my new survivor

It's so good to put a face to the voice. Modern technology. Great guy just doing his job.

Awesome job Patrick, you are a first class ATC, and clearly a true New Yorker, one we are SO proud of. I have watched your role on Sully many times and even though it was acting, it seemed very realistic. Do you also feel Patch Darragh (great casting, he must be a NY'er) did a good job? Like Sully said he felt "so damn proud, we did our jobs". Well Patrick, so did you, I can't imagine the time before you learned all souls survived, wow, so moving - thanks man!

Great interview with a great legend!

Great interview

I want him on my team... any team...

Patrick, thanks. I mean that, thanks, pal

great job! best to you!

Considerable PTSD for you, my friend. I am so sorry.

BRAVO, PAT!!!!!!!! ♡

My little boy is really into aviation lately. He’s been watching some airline disaster series on his ipad. It’s very strange bc this six yr old will be like “oh, do you know about the Tenerife Disaster? Do you know about TWA flight 800?” Yeah, buddy, I was a kid when that happened. He’s really into 747s. It’s very strange bc he’ll watch 747 crashes and then he’ll watch content about 747s and I guess I should be happy that he is not fearful of planes. He seems to have a great grasp of the fact that plane crashes are incredibly rare. Anyway, TWA 800 made me think of Sully bc in my life, there were 3 major NY plane events that I remember. 9/11, TWA 800, and Sully. So, I was like “hey, have you ever heard of the Miracle on the Hudson?” We started watching an older documentary and he did not believe me. I was like “no, you don’t understand, EVERYONE SURVIVED.” He was just blown away. I think we all were. It was such a surreal scene - all those people on the wing. Shoutout to this guy though. Air traffic controllers literally have such a tough job and they literally keep us all safe!

Tough situation for an air traffic controller. Trying to give all options, but obviously not aboard the plane so can't assess what is the best.

Awesome job brother!

Outstanding work.

Fantastic Job Paddy, what part of the 'Old Country' do your people come from?

Well done Paddy!

Great interview!

Thank you so much for trying your best, the world is a better place now thanks to you.

great interview !

This guy is f*in' amazing. I'm a systems engineer and build stuff for a living so I think I have a little bit going on upstairs. But this guy? This guy is on fire

Full respect!

Great job well done

hero

You did your job! Amazing job!

Respect, sir! 🇺🇸

Good man,.. Well explained.

Dude, you did good work. You did your job.

Well, I would think by now he has that 10 years in? I hope.

What a job to have....how many lives do you impact each day?

I work for the intra-galactic space, air and snack concession management command, and I want to tell you that you've done a bang up job.....

Fine man!

1:54 is all you need to know about Sully.

What are the issues with people who give a video like this one a "thumb down"? God bless everybody!!

Quick-minded professional intelligence in action. Bless him. "... the honor and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world’s multitudes should become a source of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this..." ~ Abdul-Baha, Baha'i Faith

Maybe some readers remember Kevin Bachman, ATC for UA232. I read that he moved to Sioux City because he'd worked somewhere like New York and it was too hot.

This is what a man looks like, ladies and gentleman. Take a look.

Everyone was fortunate that they took off from La Guardia. Being forced into a water landing if you took off from JFK, it would have been impossible.

Well he got almost 10 more years before he was in an emergency that was similar. Although just the pilot having HIT something, but they still had both engines... Another reason to watch what you say, as words have a sorry habbit of turning into truth.

no flippin way. I was watching this thing and at 5:16 I looked at my watch and it was 12:50AM and the clock on the stove was the same time! What just happened! It's the matrix

👍

Soundman... Why didn't you turn off the washer?

Hmmm, Thanks to be to the Lord God Almighty, for the happy ending of this incredible story!

I like ya fridge

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