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Plane Down in Hudson River; All Are Safe

By M. Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 15, 2009 3:26 PM CST

(Newser) – All of the US Airways passengers aboard a jet that went down in the frigid waters of the Hudson River off Manhattan are reported to be safe, the New York Times reports. Flight 1549 apparently flew into a flock of geese, disabling at least one engine, according to MSNBC. Authorities quickly reported that terrorism was not suspected, and no casualties were immediately reported.

“I just thought, ‘Why is it so low?’ And, splash, it hit the water,” a witness told the AP. Police divers were dropped into the water near the Airbus A380, which left LaGuardia airport for Charlotte, NC, at 3:26pm with 146 passengers and five crew members on board. The aircraft was floating southward in the river as passengers crowded onto the wings. The air temperature in New York today is in the teens.

Passengers stand on the wing of the US Airways jet as rescuers converge. (AP Photo)

This video frame grab image taken from WNBC-TV shows a US Airways aircraft that has gone down in the Hudson River in New York, Thursday Jan. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/WNBC-TV)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

Shannonals

Jan 16, 2009 10:57 PM CST

I will ensure I read all the safety pamplets the next time I fly!!!

Guest

Jan 16, 2009 2:59 AM CST

I know! Isn't that crazy? Aircraft companies spend billions of dollars developing planes and all it takes to knock it down is a damn flock of geese.

PosterNutbag

Jan 16, 2009 2:29 AM CST

What's most amazing to me, is the fact that my seat cushion really can be used as a flotation device in the event of a water landing. I always thought they said that just to fool us into feeling safer. Before this whenever I saw a big commercial plane come down over the water, it was entering nose first. Too bad for the geese, but it is also amazing that no New Yorkers on the ground were hurt. Imagine if it had crashed into a building, it would have been hard to rule out terrorism, Bush could have declared marshal law...

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New York City • US Airways • Airbus A380 • plane crash • Hudson River • USS Intrepid • Flight 1549 • Hudson crash

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NYC Giving Geese to Food Banks

... in Pennsylvania, at least for this year

(NEWSER) - New York City plans to send the geese it captures around airports to a Pennsylvania slaughterhouse so the meat can be used for food, reports the New York Times . After catching flack for dumping euthanized geese into landfills, the city chose Pennsylvania because it already has a system set up not only to process the animals, but to distribute the meat to food banks. Next year, the goose meat will likely stay in New York. The city began capturing the wild geese after Capt. Chesley Sullenberger had to splash down in the Hudson because birds flew into its engines. More»

Captain Sully Retires

Miracle on Hudson pilot says he'll remain a safety advocate

(NEWSER) - Hero pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who safely landed his US Airways jet in the Hudson River last year, is retiring after a final flight today. The captain, 59, says he “will continue to serve as the same kind of advocate I have always been—not only for aviation safety, but for the airline piloting profession,” and continue to remind the industry and regulators of the “sacred duty” pilots have to their passengers. One of the flight attendants on Flight 1549 announced her retirement as well, NPR notes. More»

‘Miracle on Hudson’ Plane Up for Auction

Used Airbus for sale, some water and bird damage

(NEWSER) - The aircraft that hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed in the Hudson River a year ago has hit the auction block. The insurance company that paid off US Airways' claim in the crash is seeking to unload what's left of the Airbus 320 it took possession of, Wired reports. The badly damaged plane, minus engine and avionics, is being sold as-is, and there's no chance of it ever flying again. More»

Sully Gets His Own Cocktail

It's a Manhattan with a splash, get it?

(NEWSER) - Today’s the first anniversary of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III’s death-defying Hudson River landing, and if you’d like to raise a glass and celebrate, here's just the thing. Renowned cocktail inventor Dale DeGroff whipped up a cocktail formula worthy of Sully’s name, and the New York Times ordered one. The bartender looked at the recipe and smiled. “It’s a Manhattan—with a splash,” he said. More»

Sullenberger Leads Rose Parade

Hero of Flight 1549 feted in home state

(NEWSER) - Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger made a splash 3,000 miles from the Hudson River today, serving as grand marshal of the 121st annual Tournament of Roses Parade through the streets of Pasadena, Calif. This year's parade celebrated everyday heroes—a perfect fit for the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, a resident of northern California. "How wonderful to have someone as grand marshal who saved lives," a spectator told the Los Angeles Times . More»

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Plane Down in Hudson River; All Are Safe

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New York City • US Airways • Airbus A380 • plane crash • Hudson River • USS Intrepid • Flight 1549 • Hudson crash

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NYC Giving Geese to Food Banks

... in Pennsylvania, at least for this year

Captain Sully Retires

Miracle on Hudson pilot says he'll remain a safety advocate

‘Miracle on Hudson’ Plane Up for Auction

Used Airbus for sale, some water and bird damage

Sully Gets His Own Cocktail

It's a Manhattan with a splash, get it?

Sullenberger Leads Rose Parade

Hero of Flight 1549 feted in home state

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Plane Down in Hudson River; All Are Safe

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

New York City • US Airways • Airbus A380 • plane crash • Hudson River • USS Intrepid • Flight 1549 • Hudson crash

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

NYC Giving Geese to Food Banks

... in Pennsylvania, at least for this year

Captain Sully Retires

Miracle on Hudson pilot says he'll remain a safety advocate

‘Miracle on Hudson’ Plane Up for Auction

Used Airbus for sale, some water and bird damage

Sully Gets His Own Cocktail

It's a Manhattan with a splash, get it?

Sullenberger Leads Rose Parade

Hero of Flight 1549 feted in home state

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?