Pilot told controllers he was going into river

WASHINGTON — Air traffic controllers at two airports and the center handling US Airways Flight 1549 after takeoff struggled furiously to get the crippled plane back to the ground, according to audio recordings released Thursday.

The exchanges reveal a tense, lightning-fast scramble as controllers tried to arrange an emergency landing before losing touch with the Airbus A320 after it ditched into the Hudson River. In the confusion, controllers mistakenly referred to the aircraft as Flight 1529 at several times; even the pilot or first officer misidentified their flight at one point.

The last words from Flight 1549 as it left the ground at New York's LaGuardia Airport at almost 3:26 p.m. EST Jan. 15 were, "Good day." One minute and 48 seconds later, the crew reported, "Hit birds, we lost thrust in both engines, we're turning back to LaGuardia."

A controller at the facility in Westbury, N.Y., handling the plane once it left LaGuardia told the airport tower: "Stop your departures, we got an emergency returning." After identifying the flight, the controller said, "He lost all engines, he lost the thrust in the engines, he is returning immediately."

The flight had been in the air for two minutes and six seconds.

Then 17 seconds later, Flight 1549 reported back to TRACON (the Terminal Radar Approach Control Center): "We're unable. We may end up in the Hudson."

That led to an unsuccessful scramble to divert the plane to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

"Emergency inbound," one controller said as he tried to arrange a landing.

"He was a bird strike. Can I get him in for Runway One?" said the TRACON controller, identified by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association as Patrick Harten, a 10-year veteran.

"Runway One, that's good," the Teterboro controller replied, according to the recordings released by the Federal Aviation Administration.

"Cactus 1529 turn right two-eight-zero" for Teterboro, Harten ordered orders the plane's pilot. Cactus is the call sign used by controllers for US Airways.

"We can't do it," the crew said.

"OK, which runway would you like at Teterboro?" Harten asked.

"We're going to be in the Hudson," the pilot replied.

"I'm sorry, say again Cactus," Harten said after hearing the pilot's message that he was ditching the plane.

There was no response.