U.S. Airways Plane Crashes into Hudson River

US Airways Flight 1549 crashed into the frigid Hudson River this afternoon. The flight crashed shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport, en route to Charlotte, North Carolina.

The plane, an Airbus A320, went down moments after its 3:26pm EST takeoff. ABC News reports that New York City firefighters and passenger ferries responded to the crashed plane. It remains unclear whether there are any injuries to the five crew members or 146 passengers aboard. New York City police report that the recue effort is ongoing. Commuter boats are reported to have helped fish crash victims from the 42 degree water and to have rescued passengers standing on the plane's wings.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot reported hitting a bird shortly before the crash. The AP reports that the plane struck one or more birds, which disabled two of the planes engines.

CNN reports that all crew and passengers are off the sinking plane and alive.

• Airbus: The A320
• Aviation Accidents (FindLaw)
• The Injury Claim Process (provided by Chalat, Hatten & Koupal)
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• Birdstrike Committee USA
• International Birdstrike Committee