How do we define events that usually have disastrous outcomes and turn out positive beyond our belief? Would you consider them unbelievably lucky? A miracle beyond explanation? Or possibly, divine intervention by the grace of God? Even if you were convinced God’s hand was involved, how could you prove it? I believe logic, mathematical probability, and rough odds are a way to identify Divine Providence.

Take for example flight 1549 and the miraculous outcome 10 years ago. After lifting off from La Guardia Airport on January 15, 2009 the airbus 320 suffered multiple large bird strikes of Canadian geese. Loud  “bangs” and flames seen coming from the engines shut down both motors while the plane was 2,800 feet over the Bronx NY. The pilot Chesley Sullenberger, quickly realized a rapid decent without power made reaching an airport impossible. Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffery Skiles would miraculously glide the over 130,000 pound jet airliner with 155 people onto the Hudson River at approximately 140 mph with  “one impact “. Most of us know the rest of the story. Everyone survived, most injuries were minor, and the event is now known as the ” Miracle on the Hudson “.

Was this a miracle? Can we conclude that the Lord wanted all these passengers to survive? Let’s together analyze this logically. According to the FAA, in the year 2000 there were 625,581 certified pilots in the U.S.. In the same year, there were 7,775 glider certified pilots . The point is about 1/100 pilots have certified glider experience (7,775/625,581= .012). This was critical to this situation. Flying a more than 100,000 pound airliner without power and landing it on water without breaking up, requires a pilot familiar with gliding planes and especially landings. If you research the typical number of commercial plane flights each day in the United States you will find the following information. There are anywhere from 30,000 to 87,000 flights per day. For sake of argument let’s say 50,000 on January 15, 2009. It follows that the rough odds of a glider trained specific commercial pilot being on this doomed flight on this day are already at least five million to one odds (1/100, or 100x 50,000 (flights per day)).Captain Sullenberger is far more than glider and pilot certified . He was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, has 20,000 hours flight experience, and was a glider pilot instructor. God’s perfect choice for flight 1549 on this one day in history!

The truth is we have barely uncovered the magnitude of this example of Divine Intervention. According to the ATO Air Traffic Organization there are 15,800,000 commercial flights annually in the U.S.. Even more incredible is Boeing’s report on the airline industry. The ” Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents: since 1959 to 2015 which includes the following facts: there has been 1,525 passenger jet airliner accidents with 29,165 fatalities. The only other significant water landing/ airliner crash occurred in 1970. Flight 980 near the Virgin Islands which was partially successful with 40 survivors and 23 dead.

So let’s put this all in perspective. Over the history of jet airliner travel (50 years in 2009) and 15,000,000 plus flights per year, there has been at least 300,000,000 flights. This is the only time that a jet airliner has crash landed on water with 155 souls on board and no fatalities! The odds are truly incalculable, they are at least billions to one.

I believe that any reasonable person would conclude that this was Divine Intervention and an obvious “Act of God “. We still have to consider future possibilities. What if a survivor on this flight will create a great invention?, find a cure for cancer?, or possibly have a child or grandchild that becomes president?

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,      Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

Thankyou

Dimitri Skopos