Passengers Rescued From Frigid Hudson

(NEWSER) - So how much training do pilots get on how to land on the water? Almost none, writes pilot Patrick Smith, who shelves his regular Salon column this week to offer insights on the Hudson crash-landing. Among them:

• Pilots can read up on how to perform these so-called "ditchings," but they don't come up much in simulators because they're so rare.
• They were two pilots on board, and both deserve credit for a "suberb" job. "They were able to maintain control and, it seems, hit the water at as slow a speed as possible. Had they hit too hard and broken apart, we'd be looking for bodies."

(NEWSER) - A portrait of a hero is emerging from today's jet crash on the Hudson. The pilot, 57-year-old Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, is drawing praise not only for his "masterful" landing without engines but for his calm actions afterward to make sure his passengers were OK, the Daily News reports. "He was the last one off the plane," said Mayor Bloomberg, noting that Sullenberger walked the aisles twice to make sure everyone had gotten out. More»

(NEWSER) - The FAA cautions that it's too early to pinpoint the cause of today's jet crash, but early reports have focused on a flock of geese. Such bird strikes—they get sucked into the engines—are an increasingly familiar problem for pilots, the Daily News reports. LaGuardia in particular is plagued by geese that live on nearby Rikers Island, but the numbers culled have shrunk in recent years as animal-rights activists have stepped up their efforts. More»

Couric lands first interview with Flight 1549's hero captain

(NEWSER) - The left engine of Flight 1549 was pulled from the Hudson River this afternoon, days after it was located with sonar, NY1 reports. Divers had held off on the recovery because of cold weather; warmer temperatures today allowed them to reach the engine and hoist it out of the water using a crane. Visible damage included a missing piece of the outer shell, and stray wires and shards of metal. More»

Passengers Spirit put on downed jet had uphill battle in getting out of return ticket

(NEWSER) - An airline that canceled its own flight and placed passengers on US Airways 1549 will not, after all, charge them for canceling their return trip, WTIC-TV reports. “I need your credit card number,” a passenger on the jet that ditched in the Hudson River recalls a representative of Spirit Airlines saying, “and our policy is we’re going to charge you $90.” The airline has since said that “they will not be charged anything.” More»