Plane crashes in NYC Hudson River!
Posted by Carlos C. on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
NEW YORK (AP) - A US Airways plane crashed into the frigid Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after striking a bird that disabled two engines, sending 150 on board scrambling onto rescue boats, authorities say. No deaths or serious injuries were immediately reported.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says the US Airways Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport enroute to Charlotte, N.C., when the crash occurred in the river near 48th Street in midtown Manhattan.
Brown says the plane, an Airbus 320, appears to have hit one or more birds.
A law enforcement official said that authorities are not aware of any deaths and that the passengers do not appear to be seriously injured. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the rescue was still under way.
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.
Government officials do not believe the crash is related to terrorism.
“There is no information at this time to indicate that this is a security-related incident,” Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. “We continue to closely monitor the situation which at present is focused on search and rescue.”
Witnesses said the plane’s pilot appeared to guide the plane down.
“I see a commercial airliner coming down, looking like it’s landing right in the water,” said Bob Read, who saw it from his office at the television newsmagazine “Inside Edition.”
“This looked like a controlled descent.”
New York City firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard are responding to the crash.
“I saw what appeared to be a tail fin of a plane sticking out of the water,” said Erica Schietinger, whose office windows at Chelsea Piers look out over the Hudson. “All the boats have sort of circled the area.”
The plane took off at 3:26pm and crash landed onto the Hudson River at 3:29pm.
All the people on board the plane are safe, but could be suffering from hypothermia.
Breaking News…
Developing…
UPDATE 1: breitbart.tv
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Live video from MSNBC.
Developing…
UPDATE 2: breitbart.tv
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Eyewitness says that this was a “incredibly controlled landing”.
UPDATE 3: Birds were sucked into the jet engine and brought down the plane.
NEW YORK (AP) - A US Airways plane has crashed into the Hudson River next to New York City, sending passengers fleeing for safety in the frigid waters.
A spokesman for US Airways says a flock of birds hit the jet and disabled two engines. The jet was bound for Charlotte, North Carolina when it crashed landed in the Hudson River.
Passengers could be seen standing on the plane’s wings as boats and rescue crews converged on the craft. New York City firefighters are responding to the crash. It’s not clear if there are injuries.
The plane lifted off from LaGuardia Airport at 3:26 p.m. and went into the water just moments later. Witness Barbara Sambriski, a researcher at The Associated Press, said she thought, “Why is it so low?” And then, she says, “splash, it hit the water.”
No terrorism. (But the geese are Canadian, so, who knows.)
UPDATE 4: breitbart.tv
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Aviation expert discusses how bird strikes can be “horrific”.
UPDATE 5: breitbart.tv
Ferry boats rush into help the stranded passengers.
UPDATE 6: The men on the plane rescued the women and children first by helping them get on the incoming ferries.
The captain of the plane stood on the wing until all the passengers were on the ferry.
UPDATE 7: More amazing pictures of the passengers standing on the wings of the airplane.
UPDATE 8: breitbart.tv
A passenger describes that they lived through a miracle.
UPDATE 9: Michelle Malkin reports that “everyone prayed”.
G-d heard those prayers.
UPDATE 10: The hero of the day - Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger!
CNN identifies the pilot of Flight 1549 as Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger.
This is providential: Sullenberger heads up an aviation safety firm. He is a United States Air Force veteran.
He walked the plane twice to make sure no passengers were left behind.
Thank you, Captain Sullenberger.
Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin
UPDATE 11: AllahPundit at Hot Air says that the plane was not in the air for a long time (90 seconds?), and that is why the plane is intact.
Also, the plane has been moved next to a pier, and it is still floating in the water!
Again, all passengers and crew are safe.
(2 Ratings)
Filed Under: = BREAKING NEWS =
This must be a mean bitch for a man to be afraid of...
Thank you for all the excellent pictures and discriptions. That Pilot did an excellent job not haveing to crash where people would be.