Pat Dollard | Young Americans

** UPDATE:

US Airways Plane Crashes in New York City’s Hudson River, Everyone Survives

A US Airways jet crashed Thursday in the Hudson River in New York City after a flock of birds struck its engines, but everyone aboard survived.

Passengers were sent fleeing into the icy waters when the Airbus 320 went down shortly after takeoff near 48th Street in Manhattan.

Two of the jet’s engines were hit by a flock of birds, according to government officials. The Federal Aviation Administration said everyone on board survived and was off the plane.

“There were eyewitness reports the plane may have flown into a flock of birds,” said FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown. “Right now we don’t have any indication this was anything other than an accident.”

Most of the passengers were quarantined at the New York City ferry terminal at 42nd Street, though at least two were taken away on stretchers. It wasn’t known how many were hurt, though no serious injuries were reported.

Flight 1549 had just taken off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport at 3:26 p.m. Thursday when it went down. The flight is believed to have had 146 passengers and five crew on board, though that wasn’t confirmed, and was heading to Charlotte, N.C.

The plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows but remained completely intact. Rescue crews opened the door and pulled passengers in yellow life vests from the plane. Several boats — including commuter ferries — surrounded the plane, which appeared to be slowly sinking.

Passengers could be seen standing on the wings of the jet floating in the water immediately after the crash.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said terrorism wasn’t suspected.

“There is no information at this time to indicate that this is a security-related incident,” Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. “We continue to closely monitor the situation which at present is focused on search and rescue.”

Witnesses said the plane’s pilot appeared to guide the plane down.

“I see a commercial airliner coming down, looking like it’s landing right in the water,” said Bob Read, who saw it from his office at the television newsmagazine “Inside Edition.” “This looked like a controlled descent.”

New York City firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard were responding to the crash.

“I saw what appeared to be a tail fin of a plane sticking out of the water,” said Erica Schietinger, whose office windows at Chelsea Piers look out over the Hudson. “All the boats have sort of circled the area.”

Those who believe they may have family members on board flight 1549 can call US Airways at 1-800-679-8215 within the United States.

MSNBC Live Feed Link.

A US Airways plane has crashed into the Hudson River, sending passengers fleeing for safety in the frigid waters. New York City firefighters are responding to the crash. It was not immediately clear if there were injuries.

Witness Barbara Sambriski, a researcher at The Associated Press, said, “I just thought, ‘Why is it so low?’ And, splash, it hit the water.”

(AP)

CBS:

US Airways Plane Crashes Into Hudson River
Plane Lands Upright In Water Near USS Intrepid

NEW YORK (CBS) ― A U.S. Airways airplane has crashed into the Hudson River, CBS 2 has learned. The plane appears to be in one piece and passengers are being evaucated by rescue teams.

Officials tell CBS 2 the airplane is Flight 1549, an Airbus 380 that took off from La Guardia Aiport. There are reports that there were about 60 people on board.

There is no word on injuries to passengers.

The plane is floating upright in the water near the USS Intrepid.

FOX:

DEVELOPING STORY: A plane has crashed in the Hudson River in New York City, Reuters reported.

One report said the aircraft was a U.S. Airways jet.

Passengers could be seen standing on the wings of the aircraft floating in the water, witnesses told Reuters.

(REUTERS):

Small plane down in river off New York

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A small plane carrying more than a dozen people splashed down in the frigid waters of the Hudson River off Manhattan on Thursday and survivors were seen standing on the wings awaiting rescue, Reuters witnesses said.

It was not clear what caused the plane to go down. It was floating on the surface of the fast-moving river and ferries were seen approaching to rescue passengers.