Safety
NTSB hearing is for the birds
While only one in five birdstrikes is ever reported, one unusual strike this past January 15, with an even more remarkable outcome, gained global attention

While only one in five birdstrikes is ever reported, one unusual strike this past January 15, with an even more remarkable outcome, gained global attention and might bring advisories and eventually new certification and training standards to operators of all turbine-powered aircraft.

On June 9 the NTSB opened a three-day hearing to focus on the emergency ditching by an Airbus A320 (operating as US Airways flight 1549) on New York’s Hudson River just minutes after take- off from La Guardia Airport, following collision with a large flock of birds. All 150 passengers and the five crewmembers escaped alive, though one flight attendant and four passengers were seriously injured.