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

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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