Welsh, Doreen

Ms. Doreen Welsh

1968 graduate

Ms. Doreen Welsh has been a flight attendant for US Air for 38 years. She was aboard US Air flight 1549 when it went down in the Hudson River in New York early in 2009. There were 150 passengers, the pilot, co-pilot and three flight attendants on board when the plane went down. Flight 1549 had been struck by something. It would later be determined that birds had taken out both engines. The pilot had to land the plane on the frigid Hudson River. Ms. Welsh was instrumental in saving 150 lives as she made sure everyone got out of the plane safely. She was the only one injured on board the aircraft. Ms. Welsh stopped a passenger from opening a rear door and letting in a gush of water, then made her way forward directing everyone out onto the wings. Captain Sullenberger checked the cabin twice. Thanks to his crew of flight attendants, he didn’t find any forgotten passengers.