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Confirmed: Canada Geese Hit Flight 1549
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 13, 2009
Modified Feb 13, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 13, 2009
Modified Feb 13, 2009
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After the Smithsonian's analysis of feathers and organic material left in the engines of US Airways Flight 1549, the National Transportation Safety Board said a flock of Canada geese did hit the plane on January 15. With its engines compromised, the Airbus A320 was then forced to land in the Hudson River, with all passengers and crew surviving. However, the NY Times reports it's unclear whether the birds were migratory birds or more native ones from the NY area: "Those that migrate typically weigh from 6 pounds to nearly 11 pounds, the safety board said, but nonmigrating geese are fatter and 'can exceed published records.' Either kind is too much for the engines to handle, however." The NY Post, which basically called war on Canada geese, seems pleased with the identification.
Tagged
bird strike
canada geese
flight 1549
miracle on the hudson
us airways flight 1549
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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