FAA Releases Transcript From Hudson River Landing

Feb. 5, 2009— -- The Federal Aviation Administration released audio recordings this morning that reveal the communications between air traffic control and US Airways flight 1549 just before it splashed down into the Hudson River Jan. 15, 2009.

Below is the transcript of that conversation beginning about two minutes after the flight departed from LaGuardia Airport. Flight 1549 is referred to as "Cactus" in its communications with air traffic control.

To listen to the FAA's audio recordings, click here.

3:27:32 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1549, turn left heading 2-7-0."

3:27:36 Flight 1549: "Ah, this, uh, Cactus 1539. Hit birds, we lost thrust in both engines. We're turning back towards LaGuardia."

3:27:42 New York TRACON: "OK, yeah, you need to return to Laguardia. Turn left heading of uh, 2-2-0."

3:27:46 Flight 1549: 2-2-0.

3:27:49 New York TRACON: "Tower, stop your departures. We got an emergency returning."

3:27:53 LaGuardia "Who is it?"

3:27:54 New York TRACON: "It's 1529, he ah, bird strike. He lost all engines. He lost the thrust in the engines. He is returning immediately."

3:27:59 LaGuardia: "Cactus 1529, which engine?"

3:28:01 New York TRACON: "He lost thrust in both engines, he said."

3:28:03 LaGuardia: "Got it."

3:28:05 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1529, if we can get it to you, do you want to try to land runway 1-3?"

3:28:11 Flight 1549: "We're unable. We may end up in the Hudson."

3:28:17 New York TRACON: "Jet Link 2760, turn left 0-7-0."

3:28:19 Jet Link 2760: "Left turn, 0-7-0 Jet Link 2760."

3:28:31 New York TRACON: "All right cactus 1549. It's going to be a left. Traffic to runway 3-1."

3:28:34 Flight 1549: "Unable."

3:28:36 New York TRACON: "OK, what do you need to land?"

3:28:46 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1549, runway four is available if you want to make left traffic to runway four."

3:28:50 Flight 1549: "I am not sure if we can make any runway. Oh, what's that over to our right? Anything in New Jersey, maybe Teterboro?"

3:28:55 New York TRACON: "OK yea, off to your right is Teterboro airport."

3:29:02 New York TRACON: "Do you want to try and go to Teterboro?"

3:29:03 Flight 1549: "Yes."

3:29:05 New York TRACON: "Teterboro, uh, empire actually. LaGuardia departure got an emergency inbound.

3:29:10 Teterboro: "Okay, go ahead."

3:29:11 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1529, Over the George Washington Bridge want to go to the airport right now."

3:29:14 Teterboro: "He wants to go to our airport check. Does he need any assistance?"

3:29:17 New York TRACON: "Ah, yes, he, ah, was a bird strike. Can I get him in for runway one?"

3:29:19 Teterboro: "Runway one, that's good."

3:29:21 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1529, turn right 2-8-0, you can land runway one at Teterboro."

3:29:25 Flight 1549: "We can't do it."

3:29:26 New York TRACON: "OK, which runway would you like at Teterboro?"

3:29:28 Flight 1549: "We're gonna be in the Hudson."

3:29:33 New York TRACON: "I'm sorry, say again, Cactus."

3:29:41 New York TRACON: "Jetlink, 2760, contact New York. O-2-6 point 8.

3:29:45 Jet Link 2760: "20-6-8 Jet Link 2760."

3:29:51 New York TRACON: "Cactus, ah, Cactus 1549, radar contact is lost. You also got Newark airport off your two o'clock and about 7 miles."

3:30:06 New York TRACON: Eagle flight 4718, turn left heading 2-1-0.

3:30:09 Eagle Flight 4718: "2-1-0, um, 4718. I don't know, I think he said he was going in the Hudson."

3:30:14 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1529, uh, you still on?"

3:30:22 New York TRACON: "Cactus 1529, if you can, ah, you got, ah, runway 2-9 available at Newark off your two o'clock and 7 miles."

3:30:32 New York TRACON: "Eagle flight 4718, climb and maintain one two thousand."

3:30:34 Eagle flight 4718 "OK, 1-2 thousand and, ah, leaving 5 and 280 heading."

3:30:41 New York TRACON: "And Eagle flight 4718, I"m sorry, I missed that, say again."

3:30:45 Eagle Flight 4718: "And uh, we're up to 12,000, uh, 280 on the heading."

3:30:48 New York TRACON: "OK, thank you Eagle flight 4718, Turn left. 2-2-0."

3:30:51 Eagle Flight 4718 "2-2-0 4718."

3:31:30 Unknown: "Was that cactus up by the Tappan Zee?"

3:31:32 New York TRACON: "Uh, yeah, it was a cactus. He was just north of the, ah, George Washington Bridge when they had the bird strike."