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Politics | 01/15/2009 7:25 pm

Brittany Catanzaro, 19, A wowOwow "Top 20 Female Firsts" Designee, Saves 24 in Hudson River Airplane Rescue

By Deborah Barrow, Editor-in-Chief

Last month, we introduced you to Britanny Catanzaro, one of 20 women who we selected to wowOwow’s list of 2008’s Fabulous Female Firsts. Last year, the 19 year old became both the youngest and the first female ferry boat captain to ply the waterways in New York.

Today, she kicked off 2009 by adding hero to her young but impressive resume by being one of the first ferry captains to arrive at the scene of the dramatic emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the frigid waters of the Hudson River in New York City.  She and the crew of her vessel, the New York Waterways Ferry Thomas Kean, quickly pulled 24 passengers from the flight to safety.

Another wowOwow appreciation to Brittany Catanzaro. 

46 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

ChromeToe
Holy my goodness! you go young lady! isn’t it just an amazing and beautiful story. good news is wonderful..
By ChromeToe on 01/15/2009 9:59 pm
CHardy
Awesome girl!
By CHardy on 01/15/2009 10:02 pm
TeeZee
wOw Brittany Catanzaro! You are true inspiration…thanks.
By TeeZee on 01/15/2009 10:03 pm
IMLIZZIE
Hoo-Ray for her!! She must be feeling very good tonight for what she did today.
By IMLIZZIE on 01/15/2009 10:06 pm
BrooklynGal1
Glad Wow saluted her as a “first”. Now she gets hero or should I say heroine added to that. Thanks Brittany!!!
By BrooklynGal1 on 01/15/2009 10:21 pm
gulliverfourmyle
an odd thing of humans—-they will slaughter many, as guvs, but most people will not pause to risk their life to save another—-how many people drown/year trying to save a victim? many. human nature is diverse. Brittany was both brave (planes blow-up), trained, and equipped at the proper time—-rather ‘miraculous’—-she should have here ‘Medal’—-as for saving those who would otherwise drown? i’ve done it—-but only in ‘high-current’ deals, where i could convince, as i know the sea’s currents, in a dangerous area, those ‘caught’ to stop panic, float, and the ‘decade’s-known’ currents would bring them to a jetty’s rocks—-they lived, so i got wet? individually people risk like near daily—-explaining their lack of such emotion, as in war?
By gulliverfourmyle on 01/18/2009 10:44 pm
rockyrocky
Great work, Captain Catanzaro! You’ve made all the wOw women proud!! And thankful that it was you at the helm and, along with the grateful ditched-plane passengers you rescued, you who came home safely.
By rockyrocky on 01/15/2009 10:56 pm
MaurineH
Twenty four passengers who were pulled to safety aboard the Thomas Kean will never forget Brittany Catanzaro’s name. I won’t either. I’m as proud of her as I would be if I were her mother. Great job, Captain Catanzaro, great job!
By MaurineH on 01/15/2009 11:51 pm
AgynessO
My hat is off to you, Captain Brittany Catanzaro! You rock and are an inspiration to women everywhere.
By AgynessO on 01/16/2009 12:29 am
Cjay
I will never forget Captain Birttany Catanzaro’s name! Thank you for being born, Brittany, and please, hug your Mama, tightly, please! You go, woman! The universe is smiling on you, and so are we.
By Cjay on 01/17/2009 12:20 am
LouHoover
What a woman! Thank you!
By LouHoover on 01/16/2009 12:39 am
FrannieEm
YES!!!!!!!
By FrannieEm on 01/16/2009 2:08 am
amp
Captain Catanzaro was on one of the news programs tonight; very professional, articulate and attractive. When asked what’s in store for tomorrow after all the action today she responded that she’ll be back out on the water at 5AM. 19-years old! Impressive!
By amp on 01/16/2009 3:33 am
MugsyPeabody
Salute.
By MugsyPeabody on 01/16/2009 4:00 am
Serena
No, no … you have to do it like this, Mugsy: WoW salute’s Brittany Catanzaro’s town of New York City, population 8,274,527. SAA-LUTE!!
By Serena on 01/16/2009 12:51 pm