US Airways Jet Had Bird Remains In Both Engines

February 5, 2009

Bird remains were found in both engines of a US Airways jet that lost power and ditched in New York's Hudson River last month, US transportation investigators said on Wednesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said both engines of the Airbus A320 were damaged and contained "organic material" that was sent to bird experts at the Smithsonian Institution for identification. The board previously had said bird remains were found in the right engine, and now has confirmed the same in the left engine.

The pilot of Flight 1549 bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, radioed to air traffic controllers that the plane had struck a flock of birds, knocking out both engines, shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia airport on January 15.

The jet could not return to LaGuardia or find another suitable landing spot, so the crew glided down to the river. All 155 passengers and crew escaped.

A mechanical problem reported in the right engine two days before the incident had been properly fixed and was not a factor, the safety board said.