When U.S. Air flight 1549 lost power shortly after takeoff on January 15, and made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, the world applauded the courage and calm of pilot Chesley Sullenberger III.
Sullenberger reported a huge flock of brown birds hit the plane just after takeoff and he immediately lost power in both engines. His quick thinking and decisive action to ditch in the frigid river saved the lives of all 155 passengers and crew that day and merited an invitation for the pilot and crew to the inauguration of Barack Obama a few days later.
Recovering the wreckage has been difficult and the National Transportation Safety Board said that their investigation will take a year, and will probably be studied for decades to come.
I don’t personally know anyone with the NTSB, so if you do, please forward this picture, which I’ve been told by a trusted friend was taken a few minutes before the crash: 
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Furthering the Investigation of Flight 1549
