Flight 1549 pilot: 'We're going to be in the Hudson'

The Federal Aviation Administration released air traffic audio recordings Thursday between U.S. Airways Flight 1549 and air traffic controllers moments before the plane splashed down in the Hudson River.

News 12 Staff

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Feb 5, 2009, 11:59 PM

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Updated 5,733 days ago

The Federal Aviation Administration released air traffic audio recordings Thursday between U.S. Airways Flight 1549 and air traffic controllers moments before the plane splashed down in the Hudson River.

The tapes show how controllers at LaGuardia initially tried to land Flight 1549 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey after the plane apparently hit a flock of birds, disabling both engines.

"Can I get him in for Runway One?" the controller at LaGuardia asks the tower at Teterboro.

"Runway One, that's good," replies the Teterboro controller.

At that point, the LaGuardia controllers tell pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger to land at Teterboro.

However, Sullenberger radios that he won't be able to make it to the airport.

"We can't do it," says the pilot. After another question by the tower, Sullenberger then calmly states, "We're going to be in the Hudson."

Sullenberger later told FAA investigators that he landed the plane in the Hudson to avoid a crash in a populated area. All 155 aboard survived the landing.

Associated Press wire reports contributed to this story

FAA Air Traffic Control Communications