- Passengers welcome aboard US Airways flight 1549. It’s our pleasure to have you aboard today and we hope you’ll have a pleasant flight.
I turned on the runway, waited 4 minutes for Continental plane to budge, then started accelerating.
Plane reached take-off speed, I pulled on the yoke and lifted the plane. Always my favorite part.
We ascend; 6000 ft., 7000. I see a bird hit my window. I lift the plane higher. Bad noises, like electric shaver and wood chipper. Lost both engines.
- Yeah this is uh Cactus 1539, hit birds, lost thrust in both engines. We’re turning back towards LaGuardia.
- Ok, yeah you need to head back to LaGuardia, turn left heading of uh, 2-2-0.
- 2-2-0.
- Cactus 1539, if we can get it for you, you wanna try to land on runway 1-3
- Unable. I think we may end up in the Hudson.
- Alright Cactus 1539, there’s gonna be less traffic to runway 3-1.
- Unable
I tuned him out, no use in talking.
I turned left and headed for the river. Lot of people screaming behind me. I align myself above the Hudson, it is full of water, but the principle is identical – land evenly.
I land like I always have; even.
