US Airways Flight 1549 comes down in Hudson River, New York

by Rachel Nixon | January 15, 2009 at 04:51 pm

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US Airways Flight 1549 has come down in the frigid Hudson River in New York.

All 155 people on board are believed to have escaped the downed plane in what the New York governor described as a "miracle on the Hudson". Only minor injuries have been reported and tributes have been paid to the pilot, Chesley B "Sully" Sullenberger, III.

US Airways Flight 1549 was leaving LaGuardia airport heading for Charlotte, North Carolina when it went down. The FAA says that Flight 1549 went down shortly after take off.

An aviation incident known as a bird strike is being stated as the reason Flight 1549 went down. Preliminary reports suggest that Flight 1549 may have hit a flock of geese which blew out an engine and prompted pilots to initiate emergency landing procedures.

The pilot radioed air traffic control about a "double bird strike" shortly before attempting to divert the plane to a private air strip in New Jersey. He then told passengers to prepare for an emergency landing.

NowPublic contributor Pythiian 1, who is based in New York City, was on the story quickly interviewing eyewitnesses. Pythiian 1 had this to add to the coverage,

"The passengers were scattered on the water and picked up by rescue boats, ferries, New York waterway, water taxis as they're brought to shore.

FDNY trucks are lining the Westside Highway off the Hudson River to pick up passengers emerging from the water and ferries. Homeland, FBI, and NYPD personnel came to the scene immediately.

150 passengers and 5 crew members were off the plane. Some passengers were brought to Weehawken New Jersey, while most were brought to the New York side.

25-50 passengers were taken to Roosevelt and St.Luke's Hospitals. Major trauma cases are being taken to St. Luke's and St. Vincent Hospitals."

'Miracle on the Hudson'

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid tribute to the pilot of Flight 1549.

He said: "It woud appear the pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river and making sure everyone got out." The pilot "walked the plane twice" to ensure all passengers had got out before leaving the plane himself.

Mayor Bloomberg said the NTSB would be investigating the cause of the accident and would be arriving in New York this evening.

At the same press conference, New York Governor David Paterson also paid tribute to the "heroic" US Airways pilot and called the rescue a "miracle on the Hudson".

In a live interview with a rescued passenger identified as Alberto Panero, CNN's Wolf Blitzer reported that all passengers are safe and that the emergency exit was smoothly handled by US Airways staff.

When asked about his feelings immediately after the rescue Alberto Panero replied, "It was a near death experience (that) thankfully did not turn that way." Passengers are crediting pilots and crew with averting a potential tragedy.

President Bush, due to deliver a farewell address to the nation on Thursday evening, issued a statement on the emergency landing.

He said:

Laura and I are inspired by the skill and heroism of the flight crew as well as the dedication and selflessness of the emergency responders and volunteers who rescued passengers from the icy waters of the Hudson. We send our thoughts and prayers to all involved in the accident."

Flight 1549 information

For updates on Flight 1549 try the US Airways hotline 1-800-679-8215.

Doug Parker, US Airways CEO, asked that only family and loved ones of passengers use this number.

Flight 1549, an Airbus A320, was at maximum capacity of 150 seats when it went down, and the total number on board including pilots and crew was 155. As many as 71 people are believed to have been treated for minor injuries at nearby hospitals, including four reported cases of hypothermia.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says the US Airways Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport enroute to Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday when the crash occurred in the river near 48th Street in midtown Manhattan.
Brown says the plane, an Airbus 320, may have been hit by birds.

The plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows. Rescue crews had opened the door and were pulling passengers in yellow life vests from the plane. Several boats surrounded the plane, which appeared to be slowly sinking.

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jordan

flagged this story as Breaking

at 12:52 on January 15th, 2009

Thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.

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greglam

at 12:57 on January 15th, 2009

Hi. This just happened not far from me. I have some photos. I hope everyone is safe.

Rachel Nixon

at 12:59 on January 15th, 2009

Thanks for your comment. Please do upload photos to this story. Thank you. I also hope everyone is safe.

meyers

at 13:02 on January 15th, 2009

greglam, would appreciate it if you would upload your photos to the story. i'm just a few blocks from the hudson, is this uptown or downtown?

hope everyone is ok... there are so many airports (jfk, lga, newark, and all the smaller ones) nearby, i wonder why it went down in the hudson... anyone of these would be only a few min. away...

greglam

at 13:07 on January 15th, 2009

It was on the Hudson, midtown west side near the Intrepid Carrier Museum around 41st Street.

Jarrett Martineau

at 13:09 on January 15th, 2009

1:09pm — Rescued passenger is telling CNN that "all the passengers are okay".

meyers

at 13:11 on January 15th, 2009

cbs tv is reporting that 2 min. after take off passengers heard a large "boom" and the plane starting rapidly loosing altitude, they think it was a bird in the engine. rescue effort is under way, injuries are being reported, no word on number of or if there are fatalities

they say that after of 30 min. floating in the very cold water and you'll pass out of hypothermia

meyers

at 13:14 on January 15th, 2009

the plane was taking off from Laguardia airport (LGA) made it to about 3,200-3,600 feet when they think it went through a "large flock of seagulls" which took out both engines

Amy Judd

at 13:18 on January 15th, 2009

It must have been one huge flock of birds.

nascanner

at 13:26 on January 15th, 2009

This is a list of Tweets from @ironmill Posts in reverse chronological order

Breaking US Airways FBI, "no indication if Terrorist"

RT@politisite @ironmill: US airways jet appears to be sinking, but there are many ferries and emergency crew on scene

RT @Drudge_Report: Survivors seen standing on the wings... Developing... http://tinyurl.com/7mjemk

US airways jet appears to be sinking, but there are many ferries and emergency crew on scene

New York City firefighters are responding to the US Airways flight 1549 crash in the Hudson River. More updates soon at http://latimes.com

RT @NewsHeadlines: Small plane down in river off New York (Reuters) http://tinyurl.com/8lweef

RT @NewsHeadlines: US Airways plane goes down in Hudson River (AP) http://tinyurl.com/8hkc78

RT @WRDW: -Update--US Airways Plane Crashes in New York City http://tinyurl.com/a5j4w2

Breaking the US Air is a Airbus a 360 with just over 150 passengers on board

Breaking US airways 1567 left Laquardia 30 minutes ago in route to Charlotte, nc. No injuries reported.

Repeating US air may have been a bird strike that caused emergency landing. Flight from NY to Charlotte NC

Breaking US Airway jet down in Hudson river. Air temp is 21 degrees with a 15 mph wind

US Airways jet had no landing gear down when attempted to land on hudson river

yoyoyoyugyugug (not verified)

at 13:18 on January 15th, 2009

it was crazy!, the plane almost hit a building!

miranda gomez (not verified)

at 13:19 on January 15th, 2009

everyone seems fine now. Thank God!

nascanner

at 13:22 on January 15th, 2009

CNN is reporting that NJ Police intercepted a mayday call after a bird strike to the aircraft

_jparkin (not verified)

at 13:25 on January 15th, 2009

NY 1 is saying that everyone was pulled of safely.

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/us-airways-crash-rescue-picture-citizen-jouralism-twitter-at-work

Yuliya Talmazan

at 13:25 on January 15th, 2009

the reports of the bird strike are still unconfirmed

Albert Milliron

at 13:35 on January 15th, 2009

Not the case a NJ police intercepted a 'Mayday' about a bird strike

New Jersey Police report that the airliner's pilot signalled a mayday following the bird strike and then was able to fly the plane to the Hudson River and ditched the aircraft. The plane went down near 48th Street in midtown Manhattan.

FAA has now reported that all apssengers are off the aircraft

Albert Milliron

at 13:29 on January 15th, 2009

FAA SAYS IT IMPOSED TEMPORARY NATIONAL GROUND STOP FOR ALL FLIGHTS TO NEW YORK BUT HAS SINCE LIFTED. (BULLETIN)

Albert Milliron

at 13:30 on January 15th, 2009

US airways will have a press conference in Tempe Arizona at any moment

A. Tran

at 14:30 on January 15th, 2009

The passengers were scattered on the water and picked up by rescue boats, ferries, New York waterway, water taxis as they're brought to shore. Thank goodness for those great ferries and NY waterways for their quick responses.

FDNY trucks are lining the Westside Highway off the Hudson River to pick up passengers emerging from the water and ferries. Homeland, FBI, and NYPD personnel came to the scene immediately.

150 passengers and 5 crew members were off the plane. Some passengers were brought to Weehawken New Jersey, while most were brought to the New York side.

25-50 passengers were taken to Roosevelt and St.Luke's Hospitals. Major trauma cases are being taken to St. Luke's and St. Vincent Hospitals.

Alyse Zucker is an eyewitness to the plane coming down from her apt. near the 50's Street off the Westside Highway.

Amy Judd

at 14:33 on January 15th, 2009

Great job on this Pythiian1! Thanks for your added information and work.

A. Tran

at 15:48 on January 15th, 2009

Thanks and you're welcome. This plane crash caught me by surprise since I had just finished interviewing some people for the Inauguration, came out of the building when I heard sirens of NYPD, FDNY, and those Homeland Security cars racing toward the Hudson. .. It was and still is truly cold here, so it wasn't fun trying to chat up with the ER medical staff at Roosevelt.

People around on the streets are quite calm and concerned for the passengers, and not indifferent.

A. Tran

at 14:44 on January 15th, 2009

I had just finished interviewing some people for the Inauguration and leaving my location when I saw NYPD cars racing toward the Hudson, sometime around 3:45 PM, the plane must have already landed in the water.

I stopped off around the 59th Street, next to Roosevelt Hospital, and walked as far west as I could without being in the way. Most people were heading toward the same direction with all the local television news vans.

158

at 13:36 on January 15th, 2009

Thanks for this important story.

Hopefully the passengers will be safe.

A. Tran

at 16:41 on January 15th, 2009

Those passengers that were brought to Roosevelt were walking on their own, getting off the FDNY and hospital ambulances on their own at the Emergency entry on 59th between 9th and 10th Avenues.

ER doctors and hospital staff were standing on the streets waiting for the ambulances to pull up. Hypothermia is a big concern as the temperature on land is hovering between 18-20 degrees Fahrenheit. I managed to chat up with an ER nurse.

A. Tran

at 16:03 on January 15th, 2009

According to several eyewitnesses, the plane initially went in around 50th Street, the current brought it down to near my neighborhood, and headed toward Battery Park. It is now pulled by tugs to Battery City.

Those passengers that were brought to Weehawken, New Jersey probably headed to the Jersey City Medical Center (Trauma Centre) and the Palisades Medical Center based on their proximity to the Weekawken Ferry Terminal.

78 people are injured as of this update.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is due to give a news conference shortly.

A. Tran

at 15:18 on January 15th, 2009

A bit of local observation, it should be interesting how the mayor will handle the sticky matter of his latest attempt to phase out the NY waterways given the civilian crews' unsung works during 9/11, and now for their quick responses to the plane crash-landing in the Hudson River on 1/15.

Rachel Nixon

at 15:30 on January 15th, 2009

Interesting point. I heard the mayor refer to the joint work of the Fire Department and NYPD, as well as the efforts made by the ferry crews.

A. Tran

at 18:04 on January 15th, 2009

We'll see how grateful the mayor is for these waterways' personnel ... and he'll also hear from the vocal New Yorkers if he's going ahead with his less than enlightened idea ...

Environmentalists are expressing concerns over the fuel spilled into the Hudson due to this crash.

greglam

at 15:37 on January 15th, 2009

Hi I took some of the photos. Looking at the photo times, between the first photo I took and when the first ferry arrived was about 3 minutes. Good job to the boat crews!