Air Florida Flight 90

The Skutnick

It was an icy, wintry day, January 13, 1982, when Air Florida Flight 90 took
off from Washington National Airport (now Ronald Reagan Washington National
Airport) headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Tragically, the plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac
River shortly after take-off. Of the 74 passengers and five crew members,
only four passengers and one crew member survived.

A helicopter was involved in the rescues. "Eagle 1, a United States Park
Police Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger helicopter (registry number N22PP), based at
the 'Eagles Nest' at Anacostia Park in Washington and manned by pilot Donald
W. Usher and paramedic Melvin E. Windsor, arrived and began attempting to
airlift the survivors to shore. At great risk to themselves, the crew
worked close to the water's surface, at one time coming so close to the
ice-clogged river that the helicopter's skids dipped beneath the surface"
(Wikipedia).

After successfully towing two survivors to shore with a lifeline, the
helicopter and its crew returned to the wreckage in the icy waters of the
Potomac. This time two lifelines were dropped down to the remaining
survivors. Arland Williams, Jr., who later drowned, passed one lifeline to
"Joe Stiley, who was holding on to a panic-stricken and blinded (from jet
fuel) Priscilla Tirado, who had lost her husband and baby. Stiley's
co-worker, Nikki Felch, took the second line. As the helicopter pulled the
three through the water and blocks of ice toward shore, both Tirado and
Felch lost their grips and fell back into the water" (Wikipedia).

"Priscilla Tirado was too weak to grab the line when the helicopter returned
to her. A watching bystander, Congressional Budget Office assistant, Lenny
Skutnik, stripped off his coat and boots, and in short sleeves, dove into
the icy water and swam out to successfully pull her to shore" (Wikipedia).
The helicopter went back to get Felch and paramedic Windsor stepped out onto
the helicopter skid and grabbed her by her clothing to lift her onto the
skid with him, bringing her to shore.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan invited Skutnik to attend the 1982 State of the
Union address on January 26, 1982. He sat next to First Lady Nancy Reagan.
In his address, Reagan praised Skutnik with these words:

"Just two weeks ago, in the midst of a terrible tragedy on the Potomac, we
saw again the spirit of American heroism at its finest: the heroism of
dedicated rescue workers saving crash victims from icy waters. And, we saw
the heroism of one of our young government employees, Lenny Skutnik, who,
when he saw a woman lose her grip on the helicopter line, dived into the
water and dragged her to safety."

Skutnik received a standing ovation from the audience. He was deservedly
hailed as a hero. *

When we were "drowning" in sin, Jesus came to our rescue. He temporarily
removed His heavenly robes of splendor and clothed Himself in human flesh.
He descended into the "troubled waters" of this world and gave His life on
the cross in order to rescue us from sin. Only He, the sinless Son of God,
could pay the price for our sins in order to save us.

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous,
to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the
Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18 NIV84).

If we accept His lifeline, we can be saved through His atoning sacrifice.

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Won't YOU take of the Lifeline through your trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Lenny Skutnick" and "Air Florida Flight 90"
entries in www.wikipedia.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister
davidsargent1@comcast.net