Chesley “Sulky” Sullenberger III, the hero pilot behind the Miracle on the Hudson, spoke out following a recent plane crash in the Potomac River. He emphasized that while flying has become safer over the years, this incident is a stark reminder of the need for constant caution and continuous learning from past mistakes.

Capt. Sullenberger, who safely landed a passenger plane in the Hudson River in 2009, shared his thoughts on the tragic event. “We’ve had to learn important lessons the hard way too often,” he said. “We finally reached a point where we could learn from incidents rather than accidents.”

Before this crash, the U.S. hadn’t seen a fatal commercial plane accident in nearly 16 years. However, the recent collision between a Bombardier CRJ700 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport broke that streak. The plane, carrying 64 people, plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac, drawing attention to the challenges of navigating one of the country’s most demanding airports.

Reagan National, located just a few miles from downtown Washington, D.C., presents unique challenges for pilots due to heavy traffic and short runways. It’s a place that requires specialized training, according to Sullenberger. Built in the late 1930s, the airport remains a complex hub for air travel.

This crash serves as a sobering reminder that even in an era of improved safety, vigilance is nonnegotiable. As Sullenberger put it, “We have to stay on top of our game.” The aviation industry will undoubtedly be taking a hard look at this incident to ensure such tragedies can be prevented in the future.