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Bird Feather Found in Flight 1549's Left Engine


By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 5, 2009

Modified Feb 5, 2009


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By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 5, 2009

Modified Feb 5, 2009


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The National Transportation Safety Board released a photograph of a feather that was found in the left engine of US Airways Flight 1549, the plane which landed in the Hudson River somewhat miraculously without any deaths or major injuries. The plane's pilots had both said the Airbus A320 hit birds, suggesting the dual engine failure was due to a bird strike.

The Post reports the feather "suspiciously bears the gray-black coloration of a Canada goose" and reminds us, "Organic material and feathers found in the plane's wing, fuselage and right engine, which stayed attached to the plane, had earlier been found to be bird remains." Also, the NTSB said the flight data recorder "revealed no anomalies or malfunctions in either engine up to the point where the captain reported a bird strike, after which there was an uncommanded loss of thrust in both engines," and said right "engine surge event" that occurred two days before the crash "was caused by a faulty temperature sensor, which had been replaced."

The left engine had been left in the Hudson River for days, because the conditions were too icy to retrieve it.

Tagged

bird

canada geese

feather

flight 1549

Flight 1549 investigation

us airways flight 1549


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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