US investigators silent on cause of jetliner accident

Washington, Jan 17 (ANI): American investigators were silent on the cause of the accident that brought down a US Airways jetliner, declining to comment on whether reports of birds disabling the engines were true.

Kitty Higgins of the National Transportation Safety Board wouldn't theorize on what crippled the Airbus 320 passenger plane and prompted the pilot to do an emergency landing in the Hudson River, which separates New York and New Jersey.

"I don't want to speculate on what might have happened," FOX News quoted Higgins, as saying.

Both engines are missing from the aircraft, and crews were using sonar to search the river for them, Higgins said.

"Both engines are no longer attached to the plane," she said.

The jetliner made a forced landing without power into the Hudson River. The airplane, which had 155 people onboard, was reportedly struck by birds and lost power in both engines.

"This pilot, somehow, without any engines, was somehow able to land this plane, and perhaps without any injuries to the passengers," Governor David Paterson said.

"This is a potential tragedy that may have become one of the most magnificent days in the history of New York City agencies," he added. (ANI)