The US passenger jet that crash landed in the Hudson River lost power simultaneously in both engines after reaching an altitude of only 3,200 feet, the plane’s black box recorders revealed.
The details that emerged confirmed the circumstances under which the pilot of the US Airways flight carrying 155 people manoeuvred the plane over New York city and safely into the water after striking a flock of birds.
“The captain makes radio call to ATC (air traffic control) calling ‘mayday’ and reports that they hit birds, lost both engines and were returning to LaGuardia” Airport, said Kitty Higgins, National Transportation Safety Board member, releasing cockpit transmissions captured on flight data and voice recorders.
The wreckage of the Airbus A320 was moved by barge to a New Jersey marina, where investigators planned to inspect the damage more closely.
Investigators already have seen significant damage to the tail and to compartments at the bottom of the plane that opened on impact, Ms Higgins said.
Under a heavy snowfall, tugboats pulled the barge from a seawall a few blocks from the World Trade Centre site on a 90-minute trip to the Weeks Marina in Jersey City.
The search for the plane’s missing left engine has been suspended until tomorrow because ice floes in the river make it too dangerous to put divers or special sonar equipment in the water, Ms Higgins said.
US Airways Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger had been scheduled to give his first public interview on Monday morning to NBC Todayshow host Matt Lauer, but the appearance was cancelled at the request of the US Airline Pilots' Association.
The president of the association said he asked Mr Sullenberger not to engage in any media activities because the pilots' association has “interested party” status with the NTSB, which allows it to participate in the investigation.
Mr Sullenberger released a statement saying he was deferring to the advice of the pilots association.
PA