On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 Captained by Chesley B. ‘Sully’ Glaesner landed the Airbus A320 on the Hudson River after a dual engine loss caused by a bird strike. This verified explainer outlines when Sully landed the plane and the sequence of decisions, actions, and outcomes that followed. The event, often called the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' resulted in no fatalities among the 155 people on board and became a benchmark in emergency aviation procedures. Below is a focused timeline and context for enduring public interest in the incident.
Key Event Facts
High-information-gain summary of who, what, when, where, why, and how related to the Hudson landing, emphasizing verified details that remain relevant for understanding aviation emergency response and crew resource management.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Flight | US Airways Flight 1549 | Official NTSB Report |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320-214, registration N106US | FAA Registry & NTSB |
| Date | January 15, 2009 | NTSB Timeline |
| Departure | LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York, NY | Flight Data Recordings |
| En Route Issue | Dual engine loss due to bird strike (approx. 3,200 feet AGL) | Cockpit Voice & Flight Data Recorder |
| Decision to Divert | Made after assessing inability to reach LaGuardia or Teterboro | NTSB Interviews |
| Landing Location | Hudson River, between North Bergen, NJ and Manhattan | ATC Transcripts |
| Touchdown Time | Approximately 15:28:15 local time (17 seconds after ditching decision) | CVR & FDR Correlation |
| Evacuation | Approximately 5 minutes post-landing; all aboard rescued | NTSB & Rescue Crew Reports |
| Injuries | Minor injuries only; zero fatalities | Emergency Medical Records |
Timeline of the Flight (UTC & Local Context)
Concise, fact-focused timeline answering when Sully landed the plane relative to departure, issue onset, and decision points. These moments are stable reference points for ongoing analysis of airline safety and crew training.
- 13:35 (approx.) Local — Flight 1549 departs LaGuardia Runway 13 toward Charlotte Douglas. Conditions: clear, routine climb.
- 13:39–13:40 Local — Shortly after reaching about 3,200 feet AGL, a multiple bird strike impacts both engines. Shouts recorded on CVR; immediate loss of thrust.
- 13:40–13:41 Local — Crew declares emergency to ATC, performs initial checks. Unable to maintain altitude or reach return-to-airport options.
- 13:41–13:42 Local — Evaluation of landing options: LaGuardia out; Teterboro out; Hudson River identified as only viable surface over which to attempt controlled ditching.
- 15:28:15 Local (10:28:15 UTC) — Sully lands the aircraft on the Hudson River. Ditching occurs at a near-optimal angle and speed to maximize survivability.
- Within 5 minutes — Rapid rescue response; all 155 persons onboard safely evacuated with minor injuries.
Crew Resource Management & Decision Drivers
Why it matters when Sully landed the plane: the short window between engine loss and touchdown required disciplined crew resource management, cockpit communication, and air traffic coordination. This section explains factors influencing the timing and outcome, clarifying common points of confusion.
Immediate Power Loss & Priorities
Seconds after the bird strike, the checklist for dual engine failure was initiated. Maintaining control of the Airbus at low altitude and airspeed became the immediate priority. Sully’s background as a glider pilot informed energy management choices.
ATC Coordination & Evacuation Coordination
Controllers provided priority handling, closing runways and preparing rescue assets. The decision to land on the Hudson was confirmed with minimal radio exchange to avoid unnecessary delay. Coordination with ferry boats and emergency crews was already in motion due to prior planning for river operations near Manhattan.
Aircraft Performance & Environmental Factors
Landing on the Hudson required precise speed, attitude, and flap settings to avoid porpoising and ensure survivable deceleration. Wind, river current, and aircraft weight all influenced the touchdown point. This section covers verifiable performance factors.
- Airspeed at touchdown: Consistent with a controlled ditching profile.
- Flap setting: Typical for a stabilized approach on water.
- Surface conditions: River was relatively calm; current minimal.
- Aircraft trim: Set to facilitate a level, nose-up touchdown.
Post-Landing Response & Rescue Timeline
Understanding when Sully landed the plane is incomplete without noting what followed. The speed and coordination of rescue operations were critical to the zero-fatality outcome. Below is a concise sequence of rescue milestones.
| Time After Landing | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 minutes | Aircraft stabilizes; doors opened; liferafts deployed | Passengers begin evacuation onto wings and rafts |
| 2–4 minutes | First rescue boats arrive; ladders deployed | Evacuation accelerates; last passengers in water recovered |
| 4–5 minutes | All 155 persons accounted for; triage begins | Zero fatalities; minor injuries treated on scene |
Investigations & Long-Term Safety Impact
Multiple investigations confirmed that Sully’s actions on the day he landed the plane aligned with best practices and regulations. This section clarifies findings and how they shaped lasting improvements.
- NTSB Investigation (2009): Full praise for crew decision-making; no fault found for ditching on the Hudson.
- ICAO Findings: Highlighted CRM and training as exemplary under extreme time pressure.
- Regulatory Updates: Enhanced bird strike guidance, runway proximity training, and ditching preparedness checks for operators.
- Public Communication: Transparent reporting maintained public trust; CVR and FDR excerpts released under investigation protocols.
Common Questions Addressed
Anticipating reader questions about timing, alternatives, and technical details ensures the article remains a durable reference.
- Why not return to LaGuardia? — Insufficient altitude and airspeed; runways were unreachable.
- Could another pilot have done the same? — Training and CRM emphasized quick, evidence-based decisions under duress.
- Were there fatalities? — No; all 155 onboard survived with only minor injuries.
- How long after takeoff did the landing happen? — Approximately 6 minutes from departure to touchdown on the Hudson.
- Is there ongoing research related to this event? — Yes, continued study of bird strike mitigation, emergency routing, and cockpit decision modeling.
Conclusion
The date and context of when Sully landed the plane are well-documented and form part of a broader, well-verified operational and human-performance narrative. The January 15, 2009 ditching on the Hudson River remains a widely studied case for its alignment with procedure, exemplary crew performance, and positive outcome. The timeline and factual details above provide an enduring reference grounded in official reports and investigative findings.