Probe into Hudson River plane crash gets under way

Hours after US Airways Flight 1549 crashed into the frigid waters of the Hudson River, a team of 20 investigators arrived in New York to determine the cause of the crash. Crews will start hoisting the

News 12 Staff

Jan 16, 2009, 11:43 PM

Updated 5,822 days ago

Share:

Hours after US Airways Flight 1549 crashed into the frigid waters of the Hudson River, a team of 20 investigators arrived in New York to determine the cause of the crash.
Crews will start hoisting the plane from the water and placing it on a barge Saturday to recover the flight data recorder, or ?black box,? which investigators hope will give them a better idea of what happened inside the plane cabin before the crash.
According to officials, it may take a while to remove the jetliner from the Hudson. They say it is a long and delicate process involving heavy machinery, and they want to be certain that none of the wreckage breaks off into the river.
Investigators are also searching the water for the plane?s two engines. The National Transportation Safety Board is also working with the FBI and the city to obtain any video evidence of the landing. According to the NTSB, it will be investigating the incident to find out what made it survivable.
In the meantime, the NTSB is interviewing the plane crew, air traffic controllers and witnesses of the crash.
All 155 people aboard Flight 1549 from LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, N.C. survived the impact, with Gov. David Paterson calling the incident the "Miracle on the Hudson."
For extended coverage of the plane crash and press conferences, go to Channel 612 on your iO Digital Cable Box.
US Air plane plunges into Hudson, everyone survives Watch: Extended footage of Mayor Bloomberg?s news conference
Air traffic control map of Flight 1549?s path
Chopper 12 footage of plane crash site Information about downed Airbus A-320
Links:
U.S. Airways Press Release on Flight 1549FAAFlightAware- Flight TrackerNYWaterway