Authorities hail 'miracle on the Hudson'

16 Jan 2009, 9:54 am   -   Source: SBS staff and agencies
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New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson have praised the quick-thinking and careful work of the pilot who safely crashed landed a US Airways Airbus on the Hudson River.

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New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson have praised the quick-thinking and careful work of the pilot who safely crashed-landed a US Airways Airbus on the Hudson River.

All 155 people onboard, including the pilot and one infant, are believed to have been rescued from the wreckage.

None of the survivors are thought to have serious injuries, Mayor Bloomberg says.

Pilot 'heroic'

The Mayor says the pilot walked the length of the aircraft twice after the passengers got off to make sure no one was left aboard.

Governor Paterson praised the pilot's actions as "heroic', saying there had been a "miracle on the Hudson River".

Several agencies, including the Coast Guard and New York's Port Authority police, are in the area verifying the identities and whereabouts of the survivors.

Police divers have scoured the icy-cold river, and inspected the wreckage for clues.

Mayor Bloomberg says cooperation between the rescue agencies was flawless, and hailed their "fast, hard work".

Relative of 9/11 victim aboard

Survivors who had spoken to the media after the crash thanked the pilot and the crew for their efforts.

Governor Paterson indicated one of the passengers had lost a relative in the 9/11 attacks, and was thankful for the calm and speedy rescue effort.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the causes of the emergency.

Mayor Bloomberg says he's reluctant to speculate on the reason for the incident until the investigation is complete, but earlier media reports say the pilot was forced to crash land after birds flew into the plane's engines.

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