On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 was all set to roll from La Guardia airport in New York to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Airbus 320A lifted off and headed for cruising altitude when it struck a flock of large geese and soon lost power in both engines. The pilot was first officer Jeffrey Skiles. Officer Skiles had been trained to fly the Airbus 320A, but it was his first official flight. When the strike happened, the controls went to the captain, Chesley Sullenberger. Thanks to his lightning fast instincts and vast piloting experience, Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River and all 155 passengers walked off the floating aircraft with no fatalities and no lasting injuries. Fred Berretta, Jr., was on that flight.
Berretta grew up in southeast Florida and has nearly 20 years of experience in the institutional asset management industry. He was baptized a Catholic but spent many years away from the Church and came back in his mid twenties. He is 41 years old and married with four children, and he holds a private pilot license. Flight 1549 has had a deep impact on his spiritual life and deepened his commitment to his faith.