US Airways plane crash on the Hudson River

Let's thank not only the Captian, but the rest of the flight crew and cabin staff. This was a collective effort by all.

A cool-headed pilot maneuvered his crippled jetliner over New York City and ditched it in the frigid Hudson River on Thursday, and all 155 on board were pulled to safety as the plane slowly sank. It was, the governor said, "a miracle on the Hudson."

One victim suffered two broken legs, a paramedic said, but there were no other reports of serious injuries.

US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320 bound for Charlotte, N.C., struck a flock of birds just after takeoff minutes earlier at LaGuardia Airport, apparently disabling the engines.

The pilot, identified as Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III of Danville, Calif., "was phenomenal," passenger Joe Hart said. "He landed it — I tell you what, the impact wasn't a whole lot more than a rear-end (collision). It threw you into the seat ahead of you.

"Both engines cut out and he actually floated it into the river," he said.

In a city still wounded from the aerial attack on the World Trade Center, authorities were quick to assure the public that terrorism wasn't involved.

The plane was submerged up to its windows in the river by the time rescuers arrived, including Coast Guard vessels and commuter ferries that happened to be nearby. Some passengers waded in water up to their knees, standing on the wing of the plane and waiting for help.

Helen Rodriguez, a paramedic who was among the first to arrive at the scene, said she saw one woman with two broken legs. Fire officials said others were evaluated for hypothermia, bruises and other minor injuries. An infant was on board and appeared to be fine, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

"We had a miracle on 34th Street. I believe now we have had a miracle on the Hudson," Gov. David Paterson said.

The crash took place on a 20-degree day, one of the coldest of the season in New York. The Coast Guard said the water temperature was 36 degrees.

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News & Politics

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• plane crash
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• fdny
• flight 1549
• flt 1549
• water
• airplane crash

[moeez15]

THAT PILOT WAS A HERO, PERIOD!

[carycrazies42]

is the bird alright

[bwackmusic]

THIS EXTRAORDINARY MAN IS ONE OF MY HEROS. I watched the tv coverage of this miracle. Some said that he was the only one who could have made this possible. I hope that all of those aboard are well. BRAVO "Sully" and your courageous crew.

[BGrockr1X1]

some people got major balls. nuff said

[pcmechanic14]

my grandpa was the pilot captain .sully

[The47thStreets]

I know why they make it that day, that was my birthday. ! :)

[CrazyDude862]

my aunt was on that flight

[pauliexcluded1]

@Semeiron God has plenty to do....who do you think put the damn birds there?

[DisturbedForever92]

@pauliexcluded1 i'm pretty sure its out of the water already, they moored it to a barge or a quai for a while and then they lifted it out with a crane, it looked almost airworthy even after that :P

[johnnybagofdonets]

It’s real sad that pilot himself, NYC Mayor, Mad Mike Bloomberg didn’t let "National Hero" Capt. Sullenberger drop the symbolic ball on New Years Eve at Times Square, instead he had Lady Gaga do it…. Goes to show Bloomburg has no honor, morals or ethics.

[wendylovesarby]

why are there thumbs down?

[Semeiron]

Airbus FTW!! Great planes and great pilots are the formula for miracles, God has nothing to do!