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Airbus crashes in New York river Airbus crashes in New York river
(10 minutes later)
A US airliner on a domestic flight with at least 152 people aboard has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City but with no loss of life.A US airliner on a domestic flight with at least 152 people aboard has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City but with no loss of life.
All 148 passengers and the crew of at least four were rescued from the sinking plane, the US Federal Aviation Administration confirmed. All 148 passengers and the crew of at least four were rescued from the sinking plane, with some suffering injuries on impact.
The US Airways Airbus A320 crashed just after taking off from LaGuardia Airport heading for Charlotte, North Carolina.The US Airways Airbus A320 crashed just after taking off from LaGuardia Airport heading for Charlotte, North Carolina.
Officials believe the plane may have collided with a flock of birds. Officials believe the plane may have collided with a flock of geese.
"There is no indication that the incident is security-related," a homeland security official told the BBC."There is no indication that the incident is security-related," a homeland security official told the BBC.
Rescue boats plucked passengers, who could be seen wearing life jackets, from the wings of the plane. Rescue boats plucked passengers, who could be seen wearing life jackets, from the wings of the plane on a day which saw sub-zero temperatures in the city.
The BBC's Greg Wood, in New York, says that the plane was drifting rapidly down the Hudson as the rescue was carried out. The BBC's Greg Wood, in New York, says the plane was drifting rapidly down the Hudson as the rescue was carried out.
Our correspondent says there is a mood of overwhelming relief in New York that there was no loss of life.
US Airways said it was confirming passenger and crew names from Flight 1549 and would issue them as soon as possible. It also gave an emergency number for people who believe they may have had relatives on the flight: 1-800-679-8215.US Airways said it was confirming passenger and crew names from Flight 1549 and would issue them as soon as possible. It also gave an emergency number for people who believe they may have had relatives on the flight: 1-800-679-8215.
Three minutes Praise for pilot
Flight 1549 departed LaGuardia at 1503 local time (2003 GMT), after a delay of 18 minutes, the airline said.Flight 1549 departed LaGuardia at 1503 local time (2003 GMT), after a delay of 18 minutes, the airline said.
It made a pretty big splash when it landed on the water Onlooker In pictures: New York plane crash'We knew we were going down' Gotta give it to the pilot, man, he made a hell of a landing Jeff Kolodjay a passenger In pictures: New York plane crash'We knew we were going down'
It is believed the plane had been in the air for three minutes after take-off when it crashed, said a spokeswoman for the US Federal Aviation Authority, Laura Brown. Jeff Kolodjay, a passenger on the plane, described the crash for the BBC.
Kevin Johns, a former aircraft engineer in the US military, told the BBC he had seen the plane shortly before it crashed into the water. "About three or four minutes into the flight... the left engine just blew... flames coming out of it and I was looking right at it cos I was sitting right there.
"When I saw it so low I thought right away of 9/11," he said. "And it just started smelling a lot like gasoline and a couple of minutes after that the pilot said 'you guys gotta brace for a hard impact'.
"I saw the flames and I knew it was in trouble and that's why I called 911 right away to let them know it was in trouble. I thought it was trying to head for Newark or something." "And that's when everyone started, to be honest, saying prayers and we looked over the water and we thought we had a chance because, you know, there's some water.
"Gotta give it to the pilot, man, he made a hell of a landing."
Mr Kolodjay said that some of the passengers were bleeding after the impact.
Asked how he got out of the plane he said:
"At first chaos, but everyone was kind of orderly, man. You know after a while everyone, we just, I just kept saying relax relax, women and children first. And then it just started filling with water, quick."
Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways, gives a statementDoug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways, gives a statement
Another, unnamed man who witnessed the crash told the BBC that the crash had seemed like a scene from a film. An unnamed man who witnessed the crash from the ground told the BBC it had seemed like a scene from a film.
"It looked crazy, it looked like a movie, it looked like a movie, it was incredible," he said."It looked crazy, it looked like a movie, it looked like a movie, it was incredible," he said.
"It made a pretty big splash when it landed on the water.""It made a pretty big splash when it landed on the water."
One passenger from the aircraft told CNN: "A couple of minutes after taking off we heard a loud bang, the plane shook a bit and immediately we could smell smoke and fire."
Bird strike theoryBird strike theory
The FAA said eyewitnesses had reported that the plane "may have flown into a flock of birds". America's National Transportation Safety Board has announced it is is sending a team to investigate the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said eyewitnesses had reported that the plane "may have flown into a flock of birds".
"Right now we don't have any indication this was anything other than an accident," Ms Brown said."Right now we don't have any indication this was anything other than an accident," Ms Brown said.
Joe Mazzone, a retired Delta Air Lines pilot, told the Associated Press it was not unusual for birds to strike planes and when planes get ready to take off, if there are birds in the area, the tower will alert the crew.Joe Mazzone, a retired Delta Air Lines pilot, told the Associated Press it was not unusual for birds to strike planes and when planes get ready to take off, if there are birds in the area, the tower will alert the crew.
"They literally just choke out the engine and it quits," Mr Mazzone said."They literally just choke out the engine and it quits," Mr Mazzone said.
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