Name: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed
Uploaded: 2011-04-22T14:36:00Z
Duration: 4 min 45 s
Description: Ric Elias had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009. What went through his mind as the doomed plane went down? At TED, he tells his story publicly for the first time.

Ric Elias had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009. What went through his mind as the doomed plane went down? At TED, he tells his story publicly for the first time.

3 things I learned while my plane crashed

A plane crash landing in New York’s Hudson River revealed how instantly life can change. In those silent, terrifying moments, regrets surfaced for time wasted on unimportant things and strained relationships. Surviving brought a powerful urgency to act on what matters and to cherish family above all. The experience transformed daily choices, shifting focus from being right to being present and loving.