It’s been a long journey—including some tight turns in New Jersey and a pretty big surprise landing in New York—but flight Flight 1549 has finally arrived at its scheduled destination of Charlotte, North Carolina.

On Friday afternoon the plane finally pulled into Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and was greeted to a water jet shower thanks to the airport trucks on hand to welcome it. The plane has since pulled into a hangar at the Carolinas Aviation Museum—it’s final resting place—and was on hand Saturday evening for an event to welcome it back home. Passengers from the flight—along with everyone’s favorite hero pilot—were there to see the plane from which they so thankfully escaped backed in January 2009. ]]> kjb 2011-06-13T09:49:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/6/6/72430/30011

Flight 1549—aka The Miracle on the Hudson—is now on its way to a more permanent home in Charlotte, but getting there is proving to be quite a challenge. That’s because this time it’s taking the highway, and there are definitely a few bridges and byways not designed with an Airbus A320 in mind.

Like all good road trips along the East Coast, those involved with moving the plane decided to get a head start over the weekend and changed the original departure date of today up to Saturday. It’s unfortunately not just a straight shot down I-95, as the trailer that’s carrying the plane—it was custom designed for its unique load—is trying to navigate smaller streets and tight turns. ]]> kjb 2011-06-06T08:34:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/1/14/152815/876

Technically tomorrow is the exact anniversary, but tonight's a Friday night and we're looking for an excuse to toast a shot of Grey Goose.

Do you remember where you were when US Airways Flight 1549 from New York-LaGuardia to Charlotte only made it as far as the Hudson River, ditching into the water after bird strikes took out both engines? We do—we were working, but then threw on our boots and walked about a mile in the 10-degree air and slush to get as close to it as possible, just to see the Airbus A320 still floating and being slowly tugged over to the side of the river.

All 155 passengers and crew survived, with only 5 bad injuries despite the fact that they glided on no power, then freaking landed in a freezing river. Last year on the anniversary, they all came back to the city and took a boat out to the spot where they faced one of the most harrowing moments of their lives. There they enjoyed a little party, celebrating the fact that they were alive, thanks to the actions of their calm and quick-thinking pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger. Since there's no such shindig this year, let's look back on what's happened since that historic day: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-01-14T15:28:15-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/1/4/91441/79952

Believe it or not, January 15th marks the two-year anniversary since US Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger successfully water-landed his Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River after a bird strike took down both of the plane's engines. All 155 crew and passengers onboard survived and thus Flight 1549 became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson." Sully retired almost a year ago, but the battered fuselage hasn't yet reached such a peaceful conclusion; it's been up for auction (mainly for parts) since last January, and it may finally have found a buyer.

According to Gothamist, this piece of aviation history could end up in a place where all are welcome to come and see it: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-01-04T10:41:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/11/10/11747/567

This upcoming January 2011, it'll be a whole two years since US Airways Flight 1549 suffered a bird strike just after leaving LaGuardia Airport, which shut down all its engines and forced the plane to land in the Hudson River, with no fatalities. Now better known as "The Miracle on the Hudson," Flight 1549 got the attention of the world, a book deal for its pilot "Sully" Sullenberger, and a vodka party for all the passengers on its first anniversary. But that's not all!

While walking down 6th Avenue in Manhattan the other day, we did a double-take when a NY Waterways bus drove by, and we spotted an advertisement on its side for the "Miracle on the Hudson." What are they selling? Are they actually trying to make some money off this accident? You see, the NY Waterways ferries were the first responders on the scene when the plane dropped in the drink, as they were making their usual rounds Hudson River trips between New Jersey and Manhattan. So now, apparently, the ferry company is trying to take their hero role to the bank. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-11-10T11:35:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/3/114416/3896

Today marks the end of a great career in aviation as US Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger retires. Granted, the man who is an expert on aviation safety and also a glider pilot wasn't known to the public until he was lauded as a hero after safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River with no loss of life after bird strikes took out both of the plane's engines.

After that event (which occurred over a year ago, in January 2009), Sully did the talk show circuit, wrote a book, gave speeches, testified to aviation officials, and even returned to the controls as a regular US Airways pilot in October 2009. But now, the 59-year-old Sullenberger, who's been working for US Airways since 1980, is getting out while the getting is good. Also retiring is the 59-year-old flight attendant onboard the Miracle of the Hudson; she has been with US Airways since 1970. She may not have a book out to ride the sales of, but she deserves it just as much as Sully.

We're sort of sad that US Airways is losing a knowledgeable pilot like Sully, but good luck to them both!

Related Stories:
· Captain Sully Retiring From US Airways [Today in the Sky]
· Flight 1549 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ingridtaylar]]]> JetSetCD 2010-03-03T12:05:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/22/1571/24959

Anybody looking to develop a new roadside attraction? Have we got the deal for you! The now-infamous Airbus 320 of US Airways Flight 1549—which performed a flawless emergency water landing after a bid strike took out its engines—is up for auction.

WIRED and Gothamist fill us in on the details of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: ]]> JetSetCD 2010-01-22T16:05:04-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/