Airplane crash-lands into Hudson River-NY

Airplane crash-lands into Hudson River; all aboard reported safe

An investigation is under way after a plane carrying 155 people plunged into the freezing waters of New York's Hudson River.

In what was described as 'the miracle on the Hudson', airline pilot Chesley Sullenberger managed to land the plane intact on the water from where emergency services and commercial ferries were able to 

transport all the survivors to safety

The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators to New York to look into the cause of the incident. Eye witness accounts suggested that the airliner could have been a victim of a bird strike.

Mr Sullenberger, 57, has been hailed a hero for managing to bring US Airways Flight 1549 down with no loss of life.

The Airbus 320 was on its way to Charlotte, North Carolina, from LaGuardia Airport when it came down in New York.

Passengers have spoken of their lucky escape. Jeff Kolodjay said passengers started praying after the pilot warned them to brace themselves for a hard impact.

Mr Kolodjay, from Norwalk, Connecticut, said that three or four minutes into the flight the left engine blew. "The pilot told us to brace for impact and that pilot did one hell of a job making sure everyone or the vast 

majority of people got off," he said.

Another passenger, who was one of dozens standing on the wings of the plane while they waited to be rescued, told CNN: "I hope none of us ever have to experience it again."

The Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, said: "It would appear that the pilot did a masterful job of 

landing the plane in the river and making sure that everyone got out."

Alongside Mr Sullenberger, praise has also been heaped on the emergency services and commercial ferries that helped get people off the plane and out of the water.

Pilot Chesley Sullenberger