JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The recent plane crash at NAS Jax, dubbed by many as the 'Miracle on the St. Johns," brings many people back to the moment a plane landed on the Hudson River 10 years ago.
It especially hit home for 'Miracle on the Hudson' survivor Casey Jones, a First Coast native.
"I took a deep sigh and my wife asked me, 'What’s the matter?' and, you know, it really brings back a lot of memories and reminds me of how fortunate we are," Jones said.
He lives in St. Johns County with his family. Currently, he and his family are exploring Italy, something that is significant since flying for him is not an easy task anymore.
"We knew something was wrong 90 seconds in," Jones recalled. "Captain Sullenberger said 'Brace for impact.' Ninety seconds after that, we hit the water."
He remembers every detail. He sat in seat 7A. He says his hands were shaking uncontrollably as he tried to call his wife. Eventually, after landing, they were pushed out on the wings and he was able to get a hold of one of his daughters.
"She answered the phone and she said 'Hi, Daddy,'" he remembered, "and I said, 'You need to listen closely, I’ve been in a plane crash. Our plane crashed in the Hudson River. I’m OK, but you need to let everyone know.'"
Just 10 days after that crash Jones said he hopped back on a plane in an effort to confront that fear, but it wasn't easy.
"I had symptoms of PTSD," he said. "I flew through five therapists, trying to figure out when I’m going to feel, quote, 'normal again.'"
He says staring out his plane window into the Hudson as they went down, holding on for his life, was terrifying in itself. For passengers of the Miami Air International flight into NAS Jax, they had stared out into the darkness as they flew in during the heart of a storm.
They are different experiences, difference situations, but he assumes they invoked the same feeling of panic and dread.
"I can’t imagine that when you’re supposed to be slowing down on the runway for landing and instead of slowing down you keep going and going," he said. "The fear has to be rising and then it had to get really rough. That’s the part for me is just, people say to me 'I can’t imagine,' but I can’t imagine what they went through."
Jones has since reunited with Captain Sullenberger and his fellow passengers. He says the experience changed his life. He doesn’t take a moment for granted and he spends more time helping out in the community.
"It’s still not the same to fly," Jones said. "I use to love it. There’s tension now. It’s not a fun loving thing anymore, but it’s necessary to do things like we are doing now so you do what you have to do."
He says everyone's experience is different, but he recommends reaching out for help if you need it. He knows he did. He sends his prayers to everyone involved.
