Geese Still Not Cleared of Wrongdoing But Ailing Engine Could Be to Blame
After it had been assured that everyone on US Airways Flight 1549 had been safely rescued, the next logical step was to demonize the Canada geese which are thought to have disabled both engines of the Airbus A320. Indeed, the NY Post headlines practically encouraged the public to pick up guns and kill them on sight.
But while everyone loves a scapebird, a Jan. 13 incident on Flight 1549 two days before the New York-Charlotte route landed in the Hudson, suggests the plane might have more problems than "The Birds."
According to CNN, passengers on the Tuesday afternoon flight say they heard a series of loud bangs "like luggage was hitting the side" and were told the engine compressor was stalling. One of them, John Hodock, said he even saw fire coming out of the engine. The pilot initially announced an emergency landing would have to be made, but the plane righted itself and went on its merry way.
US Airways wouldn't confirm that the Tuesday incident took place on the same plane which was forced to make a water landing two days later, a move that could dampen the PR value of the heroic landing. But their baggage offer might bring it up again: New York's 1010WINS reported this morning that the airline would be cutting $5,000 checks, no questions asked, to compensate for the survivors' luggage. While not everything from the waterlogged plane may have been destroyed, passengers' belongings will probably be used as evidence in the investigation. Good move.
Related Stories:
· Passengers report earlier scare on Flight 1549 [CNN]
· Flight 1549 Passengers to Get $5K for Lost Bags[1010WINS]
· Flight 1549 Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo of the Airbus A320 off Battery Park: kevinh_photos]
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