Plane praised for remaining mostly in tact and afloat long enough for passengers to be rescued

WASHINGTON — When US Airways Flight 1549 splashed into the Hudson River in January, the fuselage ruptured, sending water gushing into the cabin. Passengers, some with water up to their necks, struggled to reach exits. There weren’t enough life rafts for everyone because two rafts in the rear of the plane were underwater.

Federal panel explores safety issues arising from airliner that ditched into the Hudson River

WASHINGTON — When US Airways Flight 1549 splashed into the Hudson River in January, the fuselage ruptured, sending water gushing into the cabin, and there didn’t appear to be enough room in the available life rafts for all the passengers and crew.

Captain of plane downed in the Hudson says warnings about birds provide little help to pilots

WASHINGTON — Shortly after takeoff, the pilot of Flight 1549 remarked on two things almost immediately: a breathtaking view of the Hudson River and the sickening thump of birds hitting his engines. Warnings about the birds probably would not have helped, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger told federal safety officials Tuesday as they looked for ways to prevent a recurrence that could prove deadly.

Pilot who ditched into Hudson River says bird warning from controllers of little value

WASHINGTON — The pilot of the US Airways plane that ditched into the Hudson River after colliding with a flock of Canada geese told safety officials Tuesday that warnings from air traffic controllers to pilots of birds in the vicinity of airports have little value.

Pilots were admiring Hudson River moments before they ditched their plane into the water

WASHINGTON — A passenger seated in the rear of US Airways Flight 1549 after the plane ditched into the Hudson River said Tuesday the water was rising so rapidly around him that he feared the plane was going to sink with passengers trapped inside.

Safety board probes issues arising from plane’s forced landing into Hudson River in January

WASHINGTON — The ability of aircraft engines to withstand collisions with large birds is a chief concern of federal safety investigators opening hearingsTuesday on the forced landing of a USAirways jet in the Hudson River.