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US Airways 1549 Audio (Edited, full convo.)
The complete ATC recording of US Airways Flight 1549's emergency ditching in the Hudson River.
Summary
Shortly after departing LaGuardia Airport, US Airways Flight 1549 suffered a total loss of engine thrust following a bird strike. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles coordinated with ATC to evaluate emergency landing options before successfully ditching in the Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived in what became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."
Analysis
This recording captures one of the most famous incidents in aviation history. The transcript begins with routine departures from LaGuardia (LGA) on a cold January afternoon. The atmosphere shifts instantly when Cactus 1549, an Airbus A320, reports hitting birds at approximately 2,800 feet. The calm, methodical tone of Captain Sullenberger as he reports "lost thrust in both engines" is a hallmark of professional Cockpit Resource Management (CRM).
The technical challenge presented was immense: a "dual engine flameout" at low altitude over a densely populated urban area. The transcript reveals the rapid-fire decision-making process between the cockpit and the New York Departure controller, Patrick Harten. Harten immediately clears the airspace and offers various runways at LaGuardia and Teterboro. Sullenberger’s repeated use of the word "Unable" demonstrates the pilot's ultimate authority and his realization that the aircraft lacked the glide ratio to reach any paved surface.
A notable moment occurs when the controller asks if the pilot wants to try for Teterboro. Sullenberger initially agrees but quickly realizes the altitude is insufficient, leading to the chillingly calm declaration: "We’re gonna be in the Hudson." This exchange highlights the "time-distance-altitude" calculation occurring in the cockpit under extreme duress. The recording also captures the reactions of other pilots in the area, such as Eagle 54718, who witnessed the ditching and relayed the information to the stunned controller.
The aftermath of this event led to a global celebration of the crew's skill and a renewed focus on bird strike hazards. It remains the gold standard for how pilots and controllers should communicate during a catastrophic mechanical failure. The technical execution of the ditching—maintaining enough airspeed to flare without stalling—saved every soul on board, making this a pivotal recording for aviation safety studies.
Original ATC Communication
Plain English Translation
LGA ATIS
LaGuardia Airport information Papa, 1951 Zulu. Wind 340 at 13. Visibility 10. Ceiling 3,500 broken. Temperature minus 6, dew point minus 14. Altimeter 3023. Remarks: AO2, sea level pressure 234. Expressway visual runway 31 approach in use. Depart runway 4. Bravo 4 hold line in use. LaGuardia Class Bravo services available on frequency 126.05. All pilots read back all hold short instructions and assigned altitudes. Advise on initial contact you have information Papa.
LGA ATIS
LaGuardia Airport automated information update "Papa," recorded at 2:51 PM. Wind is from the northwest at 13 knots. Visibility is 10 miles with clouds at 3,500 feet. Set your altitude sensors to 30.23. We are using the Expressway visual approach for landing on runway 31 and departing from runway 4. Watch the stop line at taxiway Bravo 4. Full radar services are available on frequency 126.05. All pilots must repeat all stop instructions and assigned altitudes. Tell us you have update "Papa" when you first call in.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549 is squawking 7134 and we're at runway 4, 360 at 5,000.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549, we've set our radar beacon to 7134. We're heading for runway 4, planning to fly north and climb to 5,000 feet.
LGA CLEARANCE
Cactus 1549, LaGuardia clearance readback is correct. Contact ground on .7, verify information Papa.
LGA CLEARANCE
Cactus 1549, your flight plan details are correct. Switch to the ground controllers on frequency 121.7, and make sure you've heard the latest weather update.
CACTUS 1549
We have Papa, thank you. Cactus 1549.
CACTUS 1549
We've got the weather, thank you. Cactus 1549.
CACTUS 1549
Ground, Cactus 1549, spot 28, taxi please.
CACTUS 1549
Ground control, Cactus 1549 at parking spot 28, ready to taxi to the runway.
LGA GROUND
Cactus 1549, LaGuardia Ground, runway 4, turn left Alpha, hold short of Golf. And did you call clearance?
LGA GROUND
Cactus 1549, LaGuardia Ground, head for runway 4 by turning left on taxiway Alpha, but stop before you reach taxiway Golf. And did you check in with the departure desk first to approve your flight plan?
CACTUS 1549
Oh, sorry, I forgot.
CACTUS 1549
Oh, sorry about that, I completely forgot.
LGA GROUND
Cactus 1549, taxi Foxtrot, Bravo, hold short Echo. I’ve just gotta hold you for about three minutes for your in-trail.
LGA GROUND
Cactus 1549, no problem. Taxi via Foxtrot and Bravo, then stop before taxiway Echo. I have to hold you there for about three minutes to keep enough space between you and the plane ahead.
CACTUS 1549
Foxtrot, Bravo, hold short Echo, Cactus 1549.
CACTUS 1549
Via Foxtrot and Bravo, stopping before Echo, Cactus 1549.
LGA GROUND
Cactus 1549, follow the Northwest, you can monitor Tower.
LGA GROUND
Cactus 1549, pull in behind that Northwest Airlines jet, and you can switch your radio over to the Tower frequency.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549, following the Northwest, monitor Tower, thank you.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549, following the Northwest plane, switching to Tower now. Thank you.
LGA TOWER
Cactus 1549, LaGuardia runway 4, position and hold. Traffic landing runway 31.
LGA TOWER
Cactus 1549, LaGuardia Tower, pull onto runway 4 and wait there. We have another plane landing on the intersecting runway 31.
CACTUS 1549
Position and hold runway 4, Cactus 1549.
CACTUS 1549
Moving onto runway 4 to wait, Cactus 1549.
LGA TOWER
Cactus 1549, runway 4, cleared for takeoff.
LGA TOWER
Cactus 1549, runway 4, you are cleared for takeoff.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549, cleared for takeoff.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549, taking off.
LGA TOWER
Cactus 1549, contact New York Departure. Good day.
LGA TOWER
US Airways 1549, switch over to the New York Departure controllers now. Have a good flight.
CACTUS 1549
Good day.
CACTUS 1549
Have a good one.
CACTUS 1549
Cactus 1549, 700 climbing 5,000.
CACTUS 1549
New York, this is US Airways 1549. We’re passing through 700 feet and climbing up to 5,000.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, New York Departure, radar contact. Climb and maintain 15,000.
NY DEPARTURE
US Airways 1549, this is New York Departure, I see you on my radar. Keep climbing and level off at 15,000 feet.
CACTUS 1549
Maintain 15,000, Cactus 1549.
CACTUS 1549
Leveling off at 15,000, US Airways 1549.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, turn left heading 270.
NY DEPARTURE
US Airways 1549, turn left to a heading of 270 degrees.
CACTUS 1549
Ah, this is Cactus 1549. We hit birds. We lost thrust in both engines. We're returning back towards LaGuardia.
CACTUS 1549
Uh, this is US Airways 1549. We hit birds. We’ve lost power in both engines. We’re turning back toward LaGuardia right now.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, you need to return to LaGuardia. Turn left heading of 220.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, you need to get back to LaGuardia. Turn left to a heading of 220 to line up for the airport.
NY DEPARTURE
Tower, stop your departures. We’ve got an emergency returning.
NY DEPARTURE
Tower, stop all your takeoffs. We have an emergency aircraft returning to the field.
LGA TOWER
Who is it?
LGA TOWER
Which flight is it?
NY DEPARTURE
It’s Cactus 1549. He hit birds. He lost thrust in both engines. He’s returning immediately.
NY DEPARTURE
It’s US Airways 1549. He hit birds and lost power in both engines. He’s coming back for an immediate emergency landing.
LGA TOWER
Cactus 1549, which engines?
LGA TOWER
US Airways 1549, which engines are out?
NY DEPARTURE
He lost thrust in both engines, he said.
NY DEPARTURE
He told me he’s lost power in both of his engines.
LGA TOWER
Got it.
LGA TOWER
I understand.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, if you can get it, do you want to try to land runway 13?
NY DEPARTURE
US Airways 1549, if you can make it that far, do you want to try to land on runway 13?
CACTUS 1549
Unable. We may end up in the Hudson.
CACTUS 1549
We can’t do that. We might end up in the Hudson River.
NY DEPARTURE
JetLink 2760, turn left 070.
NY DEPARTURE
JetLink 2760, turn left to a heading of zero-seven-zero degrees.
JETLINK 2760
Left 070, JetLink 2760.
JETLINK 2760
Turning left to zero-seven-zero, JetLink 2760.
NY DEPARTURE
Alright, Cactus 1549, it’s going to be left traffic for runway 31.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, Cactus 1549, circle around to the left to line up for runway thirty-one.
CACTUS 1549
Unable.
CACTUS 1549
We can't make it.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, what do you need to land?
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, what do you need from me to get you on the ground?
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, runway 4 is available if you want to make left traffic to runway 4.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, runway four is open if you can circle left to reach it.
CACTUS 1549
I’m not sure we can make any runway. What’s over to our right? Anything in New Jersey, maybe Teterboro?
CACTUS 1549
I’m not sure we can reach any runway. What’s off to our right? Anything in New Jersey, maybe Teterboro Airport?
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, off your right side is Teterboro Airport. Do you want to try to go to Teterboro?
NY DEPARTURE
Understood, Teterboro Airport is right there to your right. Do you want to try heading there?
CACTUS 1549
Yes.
CACTUS 1549
Yes.
NY DEPARTURE
Teterboro, LaGuardia Departure, got an emergency inbound.
NY DEPARTURE
Teterboro Tower, this is LaGuardia Departure, I have an emergency flight coming in.
TETERBORO TOWER
Hey, go ahead.
TETERBORO TOWER
Go ahead, I'm listening.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549 over the George Washington Bridge wants to go to your airport right now.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549 is over the George Washington Bridge and needs to land at your airport immediately.
TETERBORO TOWER
He wants to go to our airport? Check. Does he need assistance?
TETERBORO TOWER
He’s coming to us? Understood. Does he need emergency assistance on the ground?
NY DEPARTURE
Yes, it was a bird strike. Can I get him in for runway 1?
NY DEPARTURE
Yes, he hit some birds and lost power. Can I clear him to land on runway one?
TETERBORO TOWER
Runway 1, that’s good.
TETERBORO TOWER
Runway 1 is ready for him, that works.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, turn right 280. You can land runway 1 at Teterboro.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, turn right to a compass heading of 280. You are cleared to land on Runway 1 at Teterboro Airport.
CACTUS 1549
We can’t do it.
CACTUS 1549
We aren't going to make it there.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, which runway would you like at Teterboro?
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, which runway would you like to use at Teterboro instead?
CACTUS 1549
We’re gonna be in the Hudson.
CACTUS 1549
We’re going to end up in the Hudson River.
NY DEPARTURE
I’m sorry, say again, Cactus?
NY DEPARTURE
I’m sorry, could you say that again, Cactus?
NY DEPARTURE
JetLink 2760, contact New York on 126.8.
NY DEPARTURE
JetLink 2760, switch over and talk to New York on radio frequency 126.8.
JETLINK 2760
26.8, JetLink 2760.
JETLINK 2760
Switching to 126.8, JetLink 2760.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, radar contact is lost. You also have Newark Airport off your 2 o'clock and about seven miles.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, your plane has disappeared from my radar. Newark Airport is also an option, about seven miles away at your two o'clock position.
NY DEPARTURE
Eagle 54718, turn left heading 210.
NY DEPARTURE
Eagle 54718, turn left to a compass heading of 210.
EAGLE 54718
210, Eagle 54718. I think he said he was going in the Hudson.
EAGLE 54718
Heading 210, Eagle 54718. I think that pilot just said he was going into the Hudson.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, you still on?
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, are you still on this radio frequency?
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, if you can, you've got runway 29 available at Newark off your 2 o'clock and seven miles.
NY DEPARTURE
Cactus 1549, if you're able to, Runway 29 at Newark is available for you, seven miles away just to your right.
NY DEPARTURE
Eagle 54718, climb and maintain 12,000.
NY DEPARTURE
Eagle 54718, climb up and stay at 12,000 feet.
EAGLE 54718
Climbing to 12,000 and... we have him in sight.
EAGLE 54718
Climbing to 12,000 and... we have him in our sights now.
NY DEPARTURE
Eagle 54718, I’m sorry, missed that. Say again?
NY DEPARTURE
Eagle 54718, I’m sorry, I missed what you said. Could you repeat that?
EAGLE 54718
We’re up to 12,000 and we have him in sight.
EAGLE 54718
We’ve climbed to 12,000 feet and we have the other plane in sight.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, thank you. Eagle 54718, turn left 220.
NY DEPARTURE
Okay, thank you. Eagle 54718, turn left to a heading of 220 degrees.
EAGLE 54718
Left 220, Eagle 54718.
EAGLE 54718
Turning left to 220, Eagle 54718.
CONTROLLER
Was that Cactus that just went into the?
CONTROLLER
Was that the US Airways flight that just went into the water?
NY DEPARTURE
Yeah, it was Cactus. He was just north of the George Washington Bridge when they had the bird strike.
NY DEPARTURE
Yeah, it was the US Airways plane. He was just north of the George Washington Bridge when they hit the birds.
CONTROLLER
Paddy?
CONTROLLER
Hey, Patrick?
PATRICK HARTEN
Yeah?
PATRICK HARTEN
Yeah?
CONTROLLER
7NY, I'll just put him on a 270 heading and move him at 6.
CONTROLLER
For that helicopter 7NY, I'll just point him west and keep him at 6,000 feet.
PATRICK HARTEN
Do whatever you want, man.
PATRICK HARTEN
Do whatever you need to do, man.
CONTROLLER
And 80-Echo, put behind him on a 180 for wake.
CONTROLLER
And for flight 80-Echo, I'll put him behind that plane heading south to avoid any turbulent air.
PATRICK HARTEN
That’s good.
PATRICK HARTEN
That sounds good.
PATRICK HARTEN
Alright, Departure, we have stopped Departures. Runway 4, 360 is the runway. You know about the Cactus? I guess it was a double bird strike and he lost all thrust.
PATRICK HARTEN
Alright, Departure, we have stopped all outgoing flights. The wind is coming from the north. You heard about the US Airways flight? I guess birds hit both engines and he lost all power.
CACTUS 708
Golfstream 708-Echo, leaving 7,000, right turn to 190.
CACTUS 708
Gulfstream 708-Echo, descending through 7,000 feet, turning right to a heading of 190.
PATRICK HARTEN
LaGuardia Tower, Departure, 250, 15, 80-Echo, Altimeter 3024. You’re not talking to JetLink yet—they’re gone. All frequencies... just those two? Okay. All right.
PATRICK HARTEN
LaGuardia Tower, this is Departure. Winds are 15 knots, flight 80-Echo is incoming, and the pressure setting for the altimeter is 30.24. You aren’t talking to JetLink yet—they’ve already left the frequency. Are those the only two channels? Okay. All right.
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