"Miracle on the Hudson"

A US Airways plane went down in the Hudson River on Thursday after attempting to take off from LaGuardia Airport. The plane was headed to Charlotte, NC....
Witness Photos of Crash Scene

NBCNewYork users snapped dramatic images of the US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River Thursday.
Watch VideoA passenger described the chaotic landing he survived Thursday.

Enlarge Photo
US Airways Flight 1549 was in flight for 5 minutes before the pilot warned passengers to prepare for a crash landing in New York's Hudson River.
Miraculously, everyone aboard was able to escape, thanks to an incredible job by pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of Danville, Calif., who some witnesses said made a "three-point" landing on the water.

"It would appear that the pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river and making sure everyone got out," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg after the crash. "He was the last one up the aisle, and made sure no one was left behind him."

The twin-engine plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows, and rescue crews had opened the door and were pulling passengers in yellow life vests from the cabin as the plane slowly sank.

An armada of boats –– including at least half a dozen commuter ferries –– as well as firefighters and federal officials rushed to the scene before the Airbus A320 could be lost to the murky depths.

The frigid touch-down was the first non-fatal jetliner emergency water landing in 50 years of commercial flight, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The plane crashed near the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier museum, near 43rd Street, on Manhattan's West side five minutes after it took off at 3:26 p.m. from LaGuardia Airport, the FAA said. It was later towed to a pier further downtown.

"There were eyewitness reports the plane may have flown into a flock of birds," said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown. "Right now we don't have any indication this was anything other than an accident."

An air traffic controllers union official said the pilot reported a "double bird strike" less than a minute after takeoff and was headed for an emergency landing in New Jersey when he ditched into the Hudson River.

US Airways Flight 1549 was en route to Charlotte, N.C., and had 150 passengers and five crew members (two pilots and three flight attendants) aboard. Officials said there were only minor injuries.

Passenger Jeff Kolodjay of Norwalk, Conn., said he heard an explosion two or three minutes into the flight. He looked out of the left side of the plane and could see one of the engines on fire.

"The engine blew. There was fire everywhere and it smelled like gas, " he said. " The captain said, 'Brace for impact because we're going down,'" Kolodjay said.

“Prepare for impact" was all that was said by the pilot before the craft landed in the river, according to passenger Alberto Panero in a phone interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"Somehow the plane stayed afloat and we were all able to get on the raft," said Panero. "Some people were on the wings and had to wait there but most of the people were able to get on the raft."

"I don't even know how to put it into words right now," he said. "I actually grabbed one of the seats, that was the first thing that came to my mind. Some people grabbed the inflatable one. Immediately there were folks coming to us and throwing life jackets to us and helping us get to safety."

"There were a couple of people who took charge and started yelling for everyone to calm down," Panero said. "Once everyone realized we were going to be okay, they settled down."

The extraordinary rescue effort was due in large part to the ferries who quickly came to the plane's aid.

“We just started taking people from the wing and the inflatable rafts,” said Janis Krums who was riding on one of the first ferries to arrive and rescue the passengers. “And we just started giving them clothes and keeping them warm … in less than six or seven minutes we just had five or six boats helping.”


				*"Miracle on the Hudson"* *"Miracle on the Hudson"*



	Home \| More on: Captain Chelsy "Sully" Sullenberger III \| The Airbus 320 US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River, New York. \| "Miracle on the Hudson" \| Two of the survivors from flight 1549 \| Wife of "Miracle" Pilot Speaks of Husband's Recovery: \| Captain Sully, his co-pilot, his crew. \| "Thank You"






		*Photo by Janis Krum. This young artist takes spectacular photographs. Check his site out here or click his photo to take you there.* *http://www.janiskrums.com/* A US Airways jet landed in the Hudson River near Manhattan Thursday afternoon, plunging its 158 crew and passengers, including one infant, into freezing waters after apparently hitting a flock of geese. Enlarge Photo Passengers in an inflatable raft move away from an Airbus 320 US Airways. Dramatic Photos: Plane Crash in the Hudson A US Airways plane went down in the Hudson River on Thursday after attempting to take off from LaGuardia Airport. The plane was headed to Charlotte, NC.... Witness Photos of Crash Scene NBCNewYork users snapped dramatic images of the US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River Thursday. Watch VideoA passenger described the chaotic landing he survived Thursday. *Passenger Credits Pilot for "Helluva" Landing* Enlarge Photo US Airways Flight 1549 was in flight for 5 minutes before the pilot warned passengers to prepare for a crash landing in New York's Hudson River. Miraculously, everyone aboard was able to escape, thanks to an incredible job by pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of Danville, Calif., who some witnesses said made a "three-point" landing on the water. "It would appear that the pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river and making sure everyone got out," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg after the crash. "He was the last one up the aisle, and made sure no one was left behind him." *Governor David Paterson added, "We've had a miracle on 34th Street, Now I believe we've had a miracle on the Hudson."* The twin-engine plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows, and rescue crews had opened the door and were pulling passengers in yellow life vests from the cabin as the plane slowly sank. An armada of boats –– including at least half a dozen commuter ferries –– as well as firefighters and federal officials rushed to the scene before the Airbus A320 could be lost to the murky depths. *Authorities say 58 of the 155 passengers and crew were taken to New Jersey after being pulled from the sinking plane.* *The rest were taken to New York City.* *The frigid touch-down was the first non-fatal jetliner emergency water landing in 50 years of commercial flight, according to the Wall Street Journal.* The plane crashed near the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier museum, near 43rd Street, on Manhattan's West side five minutes after it took off at 3:26 p.m. from LaGuardia Airport, the FAA said. It was later towed to a pier further downtown. "There were eyewitness reports the plane may have flown into a flock of birds," said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown. "Right now we don't have any indication this was anything other than an accident." An air traffic controllers union official said the pilot reported a "double bird strike" less than a minute after takeoff and was headed for an emergency landing in New Jersey when he ditched into the Hudson River. US Airways Flight 1549 was en route to Charlotte, N.C., and had 150 passengers and five crew members (two pilots and three flight attendants) aboard. Officials said there were only minor injuries. Passenger Jeff Kolodjay of Norwalk, Conn., said he heard an explosion two or three minutes into the flight. He looked out of the left side of the plane and could see one of the engines on fire. "The engine blew. There was fire everywhere and it smelled like gas, " he said. " The captain said, 'Brace for impact because we're going down,'" Kolodjay said. *He added, "It was intense. It was intense. You've got to give it to the pilot. He made a hell of a landing."* “Prepare for impact" was all that was said by the pilot before the craft landed in the river, according to passenger Alberto Panero in a phone interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "Somehow the plane stayed afloat and we were all able to get on the raft," said Panero. "Some people were on the wings and had to wait there but most of the people were able to get on the raft." "I don't even know how to put it into words right now," he said. "I actually grabbed one of the seats, that was the first thing that came to my mind. Some people grabbed the inflatable one. Immediately there were folks coming to us and throwing life jackets to us and helping us get to safety." "There were a couple of people who took charge and started yelling for everyone to calm down," Panero said. "Once everyone realized we were going to be okay, they settled down." The extraordinary rescue effort was due in large part to the ferries who quickly came to the plane's aid. “We just started taking people from the wing and the inflatable rafts,” said Janis Krums who was riding on one of the first ferries to arrive and rescue the passengers. “And we just started giving them clothes and keeping them warm … in less than six or seven minutes we just had five or six boats helping.”