On This Day

Chesley Sullenberger lands US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in NY

Chesley Sullenberger lands US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in NYC. All passengers and crew survive in what becomes known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."

US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States, that ditched onto the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on January 15, 2009, due to a double engine failure caused by a bird strike. The Airbus A320 operating the flight, registered N106US, struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia, resulting in a dual engine failure. Given their position in relation to the available airports and their low altitude, pilots Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles decided to glide the aircraft into a water landing on the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan, doing so without significant damage to the aircraft.

Historical Significance

US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States, that ditched onto the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on January 15, 2009, due to a double engine failure caused by a bird strike.

Key People

Chesley Sullenberger

pilot and diplomat

American pilot and diplomat

– present

Events Before

  1. A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples comes into effect

    A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples comes into effect

  2. Australian pop diva Natalie Imbruglia (32) and "Silverchair" frontman Daniel Johns (28) announce their divorce stating "

    Australian pop diva Natalie Imbruglia (32) and "Silverchair" frontman Daniel Johns (28) announce their divorce stating "we have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together"

  3. "Breaking Bad," created by Vince Gilligan and starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, premieres on AMC

    Breaking Bad is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC.

  4. Fears of a possible US recession cause a Black Monday for global stock markets, European stocks suffer their worst decli

    Fears of a possible US recession cause a Black Monday for global stock markets, European stocks suffer their worst decline since 9/11, and Asian stocks drop as much as 15%

  5. Toshiba announces its formal recall of its HD DVD video format, ending the format war with Sony's Blu-ray Disc

    Toshiba Corporation (株式会社東芝, Kabushikigaisha Tōshiba; English: ) is a Japanese multinational electronics company headquartered in Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Events After

  1. New FINA rules re competition swimsuits come into effect; all body-length swimsuits banned; men's suits to maximally cov

    New FINA rules re competition swimsuits come into effect; all body-length swimsuits banned; men's suits to maximally cover from the waist to knee, and women's from shoulder to knee; fabric must be a "textile" or woven material

  2. Earthquake devastates Haiti, killing an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 people and destroying the majority of the capital P

    Earthquake devastates Haiti, killing an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 people and destroying the majority of the capital Port-au-Prince

  3. "Easy Rider" director and actor Dennis Hopper (73) divorces his fifth wife Victoria Duffy due to irreconcilable differen

    "Easy Rider" director and actor Dennis Hopper (73) divorces his fifth wife Victoria Duffy due to irreconcilable differences and out-of-control spending

  4. Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (46) divorces Lord of Tejada, Jaime de Marichalar (46) after 15 years of marriage

    Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (46) divorces Lord of Tejada, Jaime de Marichalar (46) after 15 years of marriage

  5. Alexandre Bilodeau wins the gold medal in the freestyle skiing men's moguls event, becoming the first Canadian to win go

    Alexandre Bilodeau wins the gold medal in the freestyle skiing men's moguls event, becoming the first Canadian to win gold during an Olympic Games hosted in Canada

More from the 2000s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 15, 2009?
US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States, that ditched onto the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on January 15, 2009, due to a double engine failure caused by a bird strike. The Airbus A320 operating the flight, registered N106US, struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia, resulting in a dual engine failure. Given their position in relation to the available airports and their low altitude, pilots Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles decided to glide the aircraft into a water landing on the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan, doing so without significant damage to the aircraft.
Why is Chesley Sullenberger lands US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly... significant?
US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States, that ditched onto the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on January 15, 2009, due to a double engine failure caused by a bird strike.
Who was involved in Chesley Sullenberger lands US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly...?
Key figures include Chesley Sullenberger (pilot and diplomat).

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