Key Facts at a Glance
On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549—an Airbus A320—lost both engines after striking a flock of Canada geese during takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. Pilot in command Chesley B. Sullenberger III declared an emergency and executed a successful ditching in the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan. All 150 passengers and 5 crew members evacuated onto rescue vessels within approximately nine minutes; there were no fatalities. The event, often called the “Miracle on the Hudson,” is studied for crew coordination, decision-making under stress, and post-incident safety reforms. This verified explainer outlines what happened, why it unfolded as it did, and how it reshaped emergency practices.
