US Airway plane crashes into the Hudson River

[GreNME]

Your Seat Cushion Can Be Used As A Floatation Device...

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6656804&page=1

An airliner went down in the Hudson River just a short while ago in NYC, apparently on take-off from Laguardia. So far I'm not hearing any reports of casualties, and considering that airliners are not among the most lift-capable of aircraft-- they tend to follow a "throw anything fast enough and you can get lift" methodology-- that means the pilot did a heck of a job getting that thing into the water in one piece despite losing both engines.

From the news link above:

The Port Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane's pilot reported a bird strike shortly before the plane went down.

It's kind of odd that birds managed to take out both engines, but not too odd to hear about it. I'm sure that the likes of Alex Jones or some other kook will find some way to blame 'the Jews' or the government, but this is a real concern for many airports in terms of runway safety.

Regardless of all those details, which will likely be forthcoming later, the pilot definitely saved the lives of those passengers by bringing the airliner down as safely as possible given the lack of engines. The count looks to be close to 150 people (146 passengers and 5 crew), and I bet most of them are thankful for the pilot's flying (or will be when they warm up).

 

[Skeptic Guy]

I hope there is not another thread, but a US Airways plane just made a crash landing in the Hudson River about five blocks from me.

Amazingly, initial reports say everyone was pulled out alive and are at area hospitals undergoing treatment, mostly for exposure.

Let's hear it for the pilot that was able to put it down in one piece, the engineer that designed the plane, and the passengers that didn't panic on the way out. Oh, and the rescuers that got them out. I'm leaving out the Big Guy that caused the plane to crash.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/15/new.york.plane.crash/index.html

ETA:

Cool picture from the crash:

 

[Bell]

Yay, everybody is save.
Great craftsmanship!!

Must have been a very scary sight to see for people around NY.

Eta: how long ago did it happen, btw?

 

[Bob Klase]

An airliner went down in the Hudson River just a short while ago in NYC, apparently on take-off from Laguardia. So far I'm not hearing any reports of casualties, and considering that airliners are not among the most lift-capable of aircraft-- they tend to follow a "throw anything fast enough and you can get lift" methodology--

Not really. They'd pay heavily in extra fuel costs over the life of the airplane if they followed that methodology.

 

[Skeptic Guy]

I didn't see it, but heard a lot of sirens right before I got the cnn.com notice.

 

[Bell]

Great reaction by all the captains of different boats.
The plane is drifting down the Hudson now, if I heard correct.

 

[Skeptic Guy]

Yes, they had to move the command post at least once to keep up with it. It is my understanding that the plane has sunk by now.

The plane hit a flock of geese on takeoff from Laguardia.

 

[Policenaut]

Yay, everybody is save.
Great craftsmanship!!

Must have been a very scary sight to see for people around NY.

Eta: how long ago did it happen, btw?

Crashed at 3:30 I believe. A little under 2 hours ago. Suspects include Canadian Geese.

 

[rwguinn]

Crashed at 3:30 I believe. A little under 2 hours ago. Suspects include Canadian Geese.

Back to the 'ol "Blame Canada" thing again, eh?
(Levity allowed because everybody appears to be OK)

 

[Skeptic Guy]

I stand corrected, CNN is reporting that the plane is still floating.

ETA: And I think I heard a passenger interview that suggested that as soon as they opened the doors of the plane after the crash, there were ferry boats right there for them to walk onto.

 

[Bell]

No serious injuries. A stewardess is in operation room, treated for leg fracture. A couple is treated for hypothermia.

 

[GreNME]

They do pay a heavy cost in fuel for airliners. They make up for the cost in flying a large number of passengers. The design provides some lift, definitely more than a military jet, but they still require far more thrust to produce lift than a prop airplane, which produces lift far more easily.

 

[Skeptic Guy]

The mayor just said that the plane is tied up to a dock in Battery Park. That may be worth going down to look at.

 

[rwguinn]

They do pay a heavy cost in fuel for airliners. They make up for the cost in flying a large number of passengers. The design provides some lift, definitely more than a military jet, but they still require far more thrust to produce lift than a prop airplane, which produces lift far more easily.

Is that why they land so slowly? (134-150 kt?)
They also fly one Hell of a lot faster than any prop plane...

 

[Bell]

It will be busy there tomorrow.
You don't happen to have a hotdog stand, do you?

 

[Patricio Elicer]

Amazing that the wings didn't break apart during the "landing", provided that the engines seem to be lower than the fuselage, and thus the first to touch water. Or at least very quicky after the tail touches down.

 

[Tricky]

Crashed at 3:30 I believe. A little under 2 hours ago. Suspects include Canadian Geese.

Off topic, but I gotta comment.

They're "Canada Geese". Some birders get very annoyed and red in the face if you call them "Canadian", and Ms. Tricky is one of them. So I call them "Canadian" just to watch the show.

 

[jsfisher]

Off topic, but I gotta comment.

They're "Canada Geese". Some birders get very annoyed and red in the face if you call them "Canadian", and Ms. Tricky is one of them. So I call them "Canadian" just to watch the show.

Everyone around here just calls them honkers.

 

[dudalb]

Cant' wait to see the footage of this when I get home.
A airliner tied next to a dock. You don't see that everyday.

 

[dudalb]

ANd that was one hot S--- Pilot on that airliner.