Flight 1549 survivor brings powerful message to Hardin County

SAVANNAH, Tenn. — A Tennessee woman who survived the plane crash known as “A Miracle on The Hudson” shares her story to local women at a networking luncheon.

Early afternoon on January 15th, 2009, Vallie Collins steps aboard U.S. Airways flight 1549 that’s set to fly from New York to North Carolina.

This was the day that changed her life and her career.

Collins gives a passengers perspective of this day at the Leading Ladies Luncheon hosted by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce.

She says, her children first came to mind when she and her seatmate realized the plane was going down.

“But I’ve got three kids to raise. He looked at me very calmly and said I have a daughter and I’m going to see her tonight,” said Vallie Collins, ‘Miracle on The Hudson’ Plane Crash Survivor.

Collins feared her life would end in the next few moments.

“But fortunately the worst didn’t happen that day. Cause Captain Sullenberger and First Officer Skiles made a textbook landing on the Hudson River,” said Collins.

In less than 17 minutes all 155 passengers were safely rescued.

Collins reminds women to be kind and empathetic to others, stay physically fit, and go into situations with a open mind.

As women of Hardin County come together to network with each other, they also are left with a message of how important is it to build relationships with others.

“As we walk through our day-to-day lives, we really have no idea who the other person is that we may have our last interaction,” said Collins.

Collins has been featured on multiple news outlets as well as spoken to thousands of people across the U.S. to inspire others to take a few moments each day to live your life.

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