<p>Approx. 146 passengers.</p>
<p>According to news which is on live now, they cannot get the passengers out because of the freezing temps in the water.</p>
<p>[USAIrways</a> Plane Crashes In Hudson River](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/15/usair-plane-crashed-in-hu_n_158263.html)</p>
<p>I’m watching out my window and praying as hard as I can. There’s not much time in this weather. What a horrible day.</p>
<p>Oh, no! I feel sick.</p>
<p>I just heard on the news that all the passengers survived. I pray that’s true.</p>
<p>Yes CNN is stating all passengers are ok. Also that the pilot guided the plane to land in the water. Incredible. How fortunate the plane stayed afloat.</p>
<p>CNN is interviewing many of the passengers now. They seem to think that everyone got out and they are praising the pilot for an incredible water landing.</p>
<p>Obvious cross posting with Sequoia</p>
<p>Now that I’ve gone to the link, I feel much better! I assumed at first that everyone had died on impact. Now it sounds as if no one was hurt in the crash, and everyone got onto boats quickly. Unbelievable!</p>
<p>Wow, just wow, everyone saved!</p>
<p>Yes, the plane hit birds and hoped to get back to the airport. It became evident at some point that a return wasn’t happening so the pilot told the passengers to prepare for impact and he landed the plane on the water - quite smoothly by all accounts.</p>
<p>from the witnesses, sounds like the pilot is a hero…“the plane landed on the water like it was a runway”…scary stuff…</p>
<p>I think this is nothing short of a miracle. The plane hit a flock of geese and went down in the Hudson River. Water taxis in the Hudson met the plane and passengers were able to get out of the plane and directly into these taxis. The temperature in NY is about 15 degrees and it will be dark here soon. The plane also crashed very close to the West Side Highway, so it was easy for emergency personnel to get to the injured. The pilots and crew also deserve a gold medal for acting so quickly and responsibly to minimize fatalities.</p>
<p>It appears that both engines were disabled by birds. This pilot deserves major accolades. How incredibly fortunate that the Hudson was there and that this pilot attempted this landing rather than turning back. This plane could have crashed into a populated area.</p>
<p>The pilot should get an award. How wonderful that everyone survived.</p>
<p>I can’t believe the composure of some of these passengers speaking. They must be running on adrenalin and pure relief. I imagine once they absorb what they just experienced, that they will be shaking with the thoughts of “what if…”</p>
<p>What a happy ending to a nightmare !
How many times have I asked myself ( during the flight attendant’s safety instructions ) if a plane was to land in the water , what would be the likelihood of surviving ? </p>
<p>Thank God that everyone made it out alive !</p>
<p>Lucky there were no boats in the way too.</p>
<p>A passenger talking on msnbc now…said he saw the plane’s engine catch on fire and the aircraft was down in the river–a hard landing, he said–in a manner of a very few minutes. Brace for impact, was the command…Can you imagine the skills of that crew!!!—Both engines are out and they land the plane in midtown Manhattan! Let’s see… the river or Midtown…amazing! Thank God indeed!</p>
<p>Anyway else been on that US Air flight to Charlotte? Popular route for bankers.</p>
<p>There is a great picture being shown on CNN in which it looks as though the passengers are walking on water. The wing is just below the surface and the passengers are lined up waiting to be rescued.</p>
<p>They must be soooooooooo cold – it is absolutely frigid here today. I can’t imagine being on the water waiting to get rescued. Thank goodness everyone is all right (just cold and hypothermic now, but basically OK) and I agree that the pilot deserves an award.</p>