A Wing And A Prayer
Jan. 16 2009, Published 6:19 a.m. ET
(Photo: Splash News Online) A Radaronline.com reporter on-the-scene of the US Airways crash landing reports that despite the presence of a huge crane, it may be quite a while before the plane is able to be raised from the water.
Reportedly, when the plane slammed into the wall of an esplanade that runs along the riverside, and finally came to rest, the submerged wing got jammed in tight.
"I don't know if it'll be possible to haul that thing out in one piece," an engineer told Radaronline.com.
On-site investigators report that one of the plane's engines is also missing, with federal investigators using sonar to try and find it.
UPDATE: 3:15PM
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed what Radaronline.com reported earlier: that the pilot of the doomed US Airways jet did not have time to jettison the fuel from the fully-loaded tanks, which is standard operating procedure for a plane in jeopardy. This both lightens the load and helps to minimize the risk of an explosive fire.
While the risk of fire no longer exists, the Coast Guard has been charged with finding a way to deal with the thousands of gallons of jet fuel that are currently resting in the riverbed of one of the world's most heavily trafficked river.
"The danger to the ecosystem is considerable," an EPA spokeperson told Radaronline.com. "It is imperative that the fuel be siphoned as quickly as possible."
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