Plane crashes in New York's Hudson River all passengers and crew survive

With both engines out, a cool-headed pilot maneuvered his crowded 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.

The plane, a US Airways Airbus A320 bound for Charlotte, N.C., struck a flock of birds during takeoff minutes earlier at LaGuardia Airport and was submerged up to its windows in the river by the time rescuers arrived in Coast Guard vessels and ferries. Some passengers waded in water up to their knees, standing on the wing of the plane and waiting for help.

"He 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 added.

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.

Police divers had to rescue some of the passengers from underwater, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. Among those on board was one infant who appeared to be fine, the mayor said.

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.

"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 water temperature was 36 degrees, Coast Guard Lt. Commander Moore said. He estimates that hypothermia can hit within five to eight minutes at that temperature.

'Brace for impact'
"The captain said, 'Brace for impact because we're going down,'" passenger Jeff Kolodjay said. He said passengers put their heads in their laps and started praying. He said the plane hit the water pretty hard, but he was fine.

The pilot was identified as Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of Danville, Calif.

"The captain said, 'Brace for impact because we're going down,'" said passenger Jeff Kolodjay. He said passengers put their heads in their laps and started praying. He said the plane hit the water pretty hard, but he was fine.

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[thekissingpigs]

I take your point. What I meant was that it undermines the pilot's skill and expertise.

[cruzaroni]

"Lands" is not as shrill and exciting as "crashes"

[thekissingpigs]

The title of this video is wrong. It should start "Plane LANDS in New York's...".

[techgeniusperson]

more like 25% of that was a miracle. The reason it was a miracle was becuase of all the good luck, only one victim was seriously injured.

[clouds99]

No, no miracles required - just great piloting skill and luck. If this had happened a couple of miles away from all the ferries and rescue boats, there would have been quite a few hypothermia fatalities. Aircraft design, aircrew training, rescue preparedness, and human bravery complimented the luck in pulling this out. If some supernatural force produced a miracle here, it was managing to stuff enough geese into two tough engines to stop them both.

[arunika86]

a true miracle!!!!!!!