How: US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320, struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Both engines were severely damaged, causing a total loss of power. With no airport within gliding distance, pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger decided to land the plane on the Hudson River.
The plane descended into the river and skidded to a stop roughly half a mile from shore. All 155 passengers and crew members on board survived the crash and were rescued within minutes by boats that responded to the emergency.
Despite the crash landing, which caused extensive damage to the plane, there were no fatalities or serious injuries among the passengers and crew. The landing on the Hudson River has been hailed as a remarkable achievement in aviation history due to the skill and teamwork demonstrated by the pilots, flight attendants, and rescue personnel. The incident became widely known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."
