This Happened—January 15: Miracle On The Hudson
On this day in 2009, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 is forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. There would be no casualties, and the incident would come to be known as "Miracle on the Hudson."
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What happened to US Airways Flight 1549?
US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled flight from New York to Seattle.
On January 15 shortly after takeoff, the Airbus A320 struck a flock of birds, losing all engine power. Unable to reach any airport for an emergency landing due to their low altitude, the pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles glided the plane into the Hudson river, avoiding midtown Manhattan.
All 150 passengers and five crew survived.
Were the passengers of US Airways Flight 1549 compensated?
Each passenger later received a letter of apology, $5,000 in compensation for lost baggage (or more if they could demonstrate larger losses), and a refund of their ticket price. They also later received any belongings that had been recovered.
