N.Y./Region: Plane Crash in the Hudson River

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

I'm curious, if the pilot had tried to land over a cornfield instead of water, would everyone have survived? I'm guessing not, but how the hell should I know?

[lejetjockmd11]

First of all, he was flying much faster than 100 kts! This is an Airbus A320, not a Cessna. Second of all, engines don't just "Shear off" because they hit birds. The birds were most likely ingested in both engines which resulted in the aircraft becoming a glider. The crew did a hell of a job under the circumstances.

[zeppelin64]

my question is, how did the engine not shear off? even when gliding, the airplane must have been flying at least at 100 knots...