NEW YORK, NEW YORK – A US Airways flight crashed into New York City’s Hudson River today, shortly after takeoff. US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320 capable of carrying 179 passengers, took off from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport and was headed to Charlotte, North Carolina. Preliminary information from the FAA indicates that a bird or flock of birds was sucked into the jet engine shortly after takeoff causing one of the aircraft’s engines to fail.
Passengers reported feeling the airplane shake and the smell of smoke and fire throughout the aircraft’s cabin. The captain first tried to return the aircraft to the airport, but was instead forced to bring the plane down into the frigid waters of the Hudson River where area temperatures were recorded to be well below 20 degrees at the time of the incident. Preliminary reports indicate that everyone was able to get out of the aircraft safely. The extent of passenger injuries, however, has yet to be determined.
While no deaths were reported in today’s airplane crash, such is usually not the case. More often the case, there are serious injuries and deaths following an airplane crash, especially with commerical airplane crash incidents.
The aftermath of an aviation accident is a very confusing and stressful time for victims and their family members. Many federal and local agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct investigations of the accident. To further complicate matters, insurance companies may get involved and also conduct their own independent investigations. It is therefore important for victims and family members to attain effective legal assistance so they can get the help they need to wade through the process in an effort to obtain the damages to which they are rightfully entitled. The attorneys at Berman & Riedel, LLP, have handle aviation cases. If you or a loved one have suffered a personal injury or death through an airplane crash incident or other commercial transportation incident, you can contact an attorney with Berman & Riedel, LLP, by calling (858) 350-8855.