<div><p><p>A Marion native is among the 155 people who survived the emergency landing in New York City's Hudson River, called the "Miracle on the Hudson." </p> <p>Joe Hall, 37, was born in Marion and is the son of Jim and Janice Hall. A resident of Charlotte, he works for Bank of America in project management and his job requires him to fly every week to New York City. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons, 6-year-old Grayson and 3-year-old Carter. </p> <p>He usually flies to the Big Apple on a Monday and comes back on a Friday. However, Hall said he flew home last Thursday because a holiday weekend was coming up. </p> <p>Last Thursday afternoon, he was one of the passengers on US Airways Flight 1549, which took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport. However, it wasn't long before he and the other passengers realized that something was wrong. </p> <p>"During the ascent, we heard a loud boom and the plane shook," he said. "Then smoke started coming into the cabin. Someone in the plane yelled 'There is a fire' and got up. I am not sure exactly what happened because we were all preoccupied with what's wrong with the plane." </p> <p>Hall, who was sitting in aisle seat 22C, could look through a nearby window and see smoke outside. </p> <p>"The pilot turned the plane to the left," he said. "I thought we were going back to LaGuardia." </p> <p>Then, the plane became really quiet as it gradually descended. The plane's pilot, Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, came on the speaker and told everyone to brace for impact. Everything was still very quiet inside the plane. </p> <p>"I looked out the window and I saw the city," said Hall. "I thought we were going down in the city. I immediately began praying. It was quieter than I thought it would be. I think everybody was pretty scared. I think everybody was doing some form of reflection." </p> <p>When the plane landed on the Hudson, it felt like a "pretty bad car accident." </p> <p>"Just a real hard jolt and then it was over with," said Hall. </p> <p>The icy cold water of the Hudson River started coming in through the back of the airliner, where Hall was located. "I just remember thinking, 'Undo your seatbelt and get out,'" said Hall. </p> <p>He started to move forward, but a group of people ahead of him stood in his way as if they were in shock. The cold water came in over his waist and he knew if he didn't get out he would drown. </p> <p>Hall climbed onto the nearby seats and started making his way out of the plane. He also helped rescue a baby by passing the infant forward. </p> <p>"There were several of us on top of the seats," he said. </p> <p>Hall briefly saw Sullenberger as he helped passengers get out. Sullenberger told him it was time to get out of the plane. Hall could also see people standing on the wings as the aircraft floated on the river. He made his way out of the main door and got into an emergency raft, which came out from under the doorway. </p> <p>Hall was picked up by one of the ferries that came to rescue the passengers. The ferry took him and others to the New York side of the Hudson, where the American Red Cross gave them dry sweatsuits, socks, a warm blanket and some hot beverages. </p> <p>Hall wasn't injured in the ordeal and didn't have to be checked by a doctor. </p> <p>Meanwhile, back in Marion, his mother Janice was busy cleaning her house and had the TV turned off. She got a call from her brother, Anthony Jones, who said that an airliner had gone down in the Hudson River in New York City. Then, Joe's wife Julie called next to tell her that it was Joe's plane that had gone down. She turned on the TV to see what was happening. </p> <p>"Of course my heart sank, but (Julie) immediately said, 'He's alright,'" said Janice Hall. "There was no time lapse and for that I give God the glory. I had no idea it was going on." </p> <p>She said she is thankful her son didn't get hurt. She was able to speak to him about 15 to 20 minutes after it happened. </p> <p>"He had a lot of jet fuel on his clothes," she said. "He was cold and drenched. Hearing his voice made it all OK. I am thrilled and happy that he's with us." </p> <p>Bank of America put him and its other employees on the flight in a hotel for the night. On Friday afternoon, he flew home on the corporate jet and arrived in Charlotte. </p> <p>Since then, he's had time to think about what happened that day. </p> <p>"You can't live in fear," said Hall. "I cancelled my travel plans, but I can't say I won't fly again." </p> <p>As for Sullenberger, Hall said he is definitely a hero and God was with him. </p> <p>"He saved 155 lives that day," he said. </p> <p>Although it was a scary experience, it reinstated some of his faith in humanity because he saw people acting at their best in a true crisis. The ferryboats and New York's emergency workers also played an important role in saving lives. </p> <p>"It's just surreal," he said. "Maybe it hasn't hit me yet." </p></p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=40898899&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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