Black Box Reveals Both Engines Failed

Investigators postpone search for missing engine
By Ambreen Ali,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 19, 2009 2:19 AM CST

Both engines on the airplane that crashed into the Hudson River last week lost power simultaneously at 3,200 feet, a clue from black box recorders for investigators still searching for the missing left engine, AP reports. Tugboats have begun hauling wreckage to New Jersey where it will be examined to confirm the pilot's report that a flock of birds damaged the engines. So far, evidence points to a bird strike as a cause of the accident.

"These people knew what they were supposed to do and they did it," said a safety board official, hailing the flight crew for protecting passengers and Capt. Chesley Sullenberger for expertly making the emergency water landing. With the crash investigation still ongoing, the pilots association asked Sullenberger to cancel his first public interview—scheduled to be on NBC today. The California pilot plans to attend the inauguration with his family tomorrow.
(More plane crash stories.)

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