Date and Time of the Hudson River Landing
Sully Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, at approximately 3:31 p.m. Eastern Time. The event is widely known as the "Miracle on the Hudson" because all 155 people on board survived.
What Happened Before the Water Landing
Shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York, the Airbus A320 struck a flock of Canada geese, disabling both engines. With rapidly declining altitude and no power, Sullenberger decided to ditch the aircraft on the river rather than attempt a return to the airport or a glide to a distant runway.
Aftermath and Aviation Safety Impact
The successful emergency landing led to changes in bird-strike reporting, engine certification standards, and pilot training for forced water landings. Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that the crew's swift decisions and precise execution were critical to saving lives. For more details, see the official NTSB report at https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/Investigation.aspx?incidentid=45069.
