US Airways Flight 1549

"2009 Hudson River plane crash" redirects here. For the mid-air collision that occurred in August that year, see 2009 Hudson River mid-air collision.
"Miracle on the Hudson" redirects here. For 2016 American biographical drama film, see Sully: Miracle on the Hudson.

US Airways Flight 1549
A partially submerged Airbus A320 with front emergency slides deployed and people standing on its wings
Evacuation of US Airways Flight 1549 as it floats on the Hudson River
Accident
DateJanuary 15, 2009
SummaryDitched following bird strike and dual-engine failure
SiteHudson River, New York City, New York, United States
40°46′10″N 74°00′17″W / 40.7695°N 74.0046°W / 40.7695; -74.0046
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAirbus A320-214
OperatorUS Airways
IATA flight No.US1549
ICAO flight No.AWE1549
Call signCACTUS 1549
RegistrationN106US
Flight originLaGuardia Airport, New York City, United States
DestinationCharlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina
Occupants155
Passengers150
Crew5
Fatalities0
Injuries100 (78 hospitalized)
Survivors155

US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States. On January 15, 2009, the Airbus A320 serving the flight struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia, losing all engine power. Given their position in relation to the available airports and their low altitude, pilots Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles decided to glide the plane to ditching on the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan.[1][2] All 155 people on board were rescued by nearby boats. There were no fatalities, although 100 people were injured, some seriously. The time from the bird strike to the ditching was less than four minutes.

The Governor of New York State, David Paterson, called the incident a "Miracle on the Hudson"[3][4][5] and a National Transportation Safety Board official described it as "the most successful ditching in aviation history".[6] Flight simulations showed that the airplane could have returned to LaGuardia, had it turned toward the airport immediately after the bird strike.[7] However, the Board found that scenario did not account for real-world considerations, and affirmed the ditching as providing the highest probability of survival, given the circumstances.[8]: 89 

The pilots and flight attendants were awarded the Master's Medal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators in recognition of their "heroic and unique aviation achievement".[9]

  1. ^ Grant, Eryn; Stevens, Nicholas; Salmon, Paul (September 7, 2016). "Why the 'Miracle on the Hudson' in the new movie Sully was no crash landing". The Conversation. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Clark, Andrew (January 15, 2009). "Plane crashes in Hudson river in New York". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  3. ^ "Live Flight Track Log (AWE1549) 15-Jan-2009 KLGA-KLGA". FlightAware. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  4. ^ "US Airways Flight 1549 Initial Report" (Press release). US Airways. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  5. ^ "US Airways Flight 1549 Update # 2" (Press release). US Airways. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  6. ^ Olshan, Jeremy; Livingston, Ikumulisa (January 17, 2009). "Quiet Air Hero Is Captain America". New York Post. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference WiredCBS2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference NTSBMay2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Masters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).