Miracle escape for passengers as plane lands in river
A plane crashed into the Hudson River in New York today, sending passengers fleeing for safety in the freezing water.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said US Airways Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport en route to Charlotte, North Carolina, when the crash happened in the river near 48th Street.
Ms Brown said: “The flight took off at 3.26 eastern time. We believe it was airborne for three minutes after take-off when it crashed into the Hudson River.”
Officials said the aircraft, an Airbus 320 carrying 148 passengers and five crew, struck one or more birds, disabling two engines.
No deaths or serious injuries were reported and the FAA later said everyone on board had got off safely.
Survivors said the plane’s pilot managed to guide the aircraft down to avoid a serious impact.
