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Investigators probe NY jet plunge | Investigators probe NY jet plunge |
(10 minutes later) | |
An investigation has begun into what caused a passenger plane to have to make a forced landing into New York's Hudson River soon after take-off. | |
Federal investigators will be working through the remains of the US Airways Airbus A320, which is tethered to a pier in Manhattan. | |
Both engines are believed to have been disabled by a flock of birds. | |
The pilot has been hailed as a hero after his smooth landing enabled all 155 passengers and crew to be rescued. | The pilot has been hailed as a hero after his smooth landing enabled all 155 passengers and crew to be rescued. |
Captain Chesley Sullenberger was praised by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his "masterful" landing. | Captain Chesley Sullenberger was praised by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his "masterful" landing. |
HERO PILOT Chesley B 'Sully' Sullenberger IIIAge 57, from Danville, CaliforniaFormer Air Force fighter pilot29 years with US AirwaysHas own consulting business, Safety Reliability Methods Inc Profile: Capt Chesley SullenbergerTale of miraculous escapedot.life blog: Power of twitter | HERO PILOT Chesley B 'Sully' Sullenberger IIIAge 57, from Danville, CaliforniaFormer Air Force fighter pilot29 years with US AirwaysHas own consulting business, Safety Reliability Methods Inc Profile: Capt Chesley SullenbergerTale of miraculous escapedot.life blog: Power of twitter |
The state governor spoke of a "miracle on the Hudson". | |
One person suffered two broken legs and paramedics treated 78 patients, most for minor injuries. | |
Bird strike | |
Investigators have brought in a giant crane and a barge to help pull the jet out of the river, the Associated Press reports. | |
Their focus is expected to be on recovering the black box and interviewing the crew about what happened. | |
Flight 1549 departed LaGuardia en route to Charlotte, North Carolina, at 1526 local time (2026 GMT) on Thursday, after delays, said Laura Brown of the Federal Aviation Administration. | |
"We believe it was airborne for three minutes after take-off when it crashed into the Hudson River," she said. | "We believe it was airborne for three minutes after take-off when it crashed into the Hudson River," she said. |
The pilot reported a "double bird strike" less than a minute after take-off and asked to return to the ground, before ditching in the Hudson, an air controllers union spokesman said. | The pilot reported a "double bird strike" less than a minute after take-off and asked to return to the ground, before ditching in the Hudson, an air controllers union spokesman said. |
Ferryboats arrived within minutes of the crash to begin the rescue as passengers emerged in life jackets. | Ferryboats arrived within minutes of the crash to begin the rescue as passengers emerged in life jackets. |
The temperature was almost -7C and the current in the Hudson was running rapidly. | The temperature was almost -7C and the current in the Hudson was running rapidly. |
BIRD STRIKE DANGER Large passenger jets can withstand being hit by a 4lb (1.8kg) bird, but problems can arise with flocks of small birds, or with larger birds219 people have been killed worldwide as a result of wildlife strikes since 1988In 2007, over 7,600 birds and other wildlife were reported to have hit civil aircraft in the USBird strikes cause $600m damage to aircraft in the US every year Source: Bird Strike Committee USA How birds can bring down a planeIn pictures: New York plane crash'We knew we were going down' | BIRD STRIKE DANGER Large passenger jets can withstand being hit by a 4lb (1.8kg) bird, but problems can arise with flocks of small birds, or with larger birds219 people have been killed worldwide as a result of wildlife strikes since 1988In 2007, over 7,600 birds and other wildlife were reported to have hit civil aircraft in the USBird strikes cause $600m damage to aircraft in the US every year Source: Bird Strike Committee USA How birds can bring down a planeIn pictures: New York plane crash'We knew we were going down' |
The plane moved rapidly down river, threatening to submerge at one point, until guided to a halt by tug boats against a pier. | The plane moved rapidly down river, threatening to submerge at one point, until guided to a halt by tug boats against a pier. |
'Controlled chaos' | |
"It wasn't wild or erratic but if as it was landing on a runway," said eyewitness Stephanie Nachman, who works in a high-rise building in Times Square. | |
Within minutes, she added, people got out, doors popped out and rafts unfurled. | Within minutes, she added, people got out, doors popped out and rafts unfurled. |
Jeff Kolodjay, a passenger on the plane, described the moments before the landing: | Jeff Kolodjay, a passenger on the plane, described the moments before the landing: |
"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. | "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. |
"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'. | "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'. |
"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." | "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." |
Moments after impact, the situation inside the plane was "just controlled chaos", said passenger Dave Sanderson, of Charlotte. | Moments after impact, the situation inside the plane was "just controlled chaos", said passenger Dave Sanderson, of Charlotte. |
"People started running up the aisle, people were getting shoved out of the way," he said. | "People started running up the aisle, people were getting shoved out of the way," he said. |
Another passenger, Alberto Panero, said that a couple of people then "just kind of took charge and calmed everyone". | Another passenger, Alberto Panero, said that a couple of people then "just kind of took charge and calmed everyone". |
Were you on the flight? Did you see what happened? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Were you on the flight? Did you see what happened? Send us your accounts using the form below. |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |