New York jet plunge data released

More news. Flight data recorders show the engines of the US airliner which ditched in the Hudson River in New York cut out simultaneously, investigators say.

The Airbus A320 reached a top altitude of 3,200ft (975m) after take-off, then apparently collided with birds, the National Transport Safety Board said.

But it was still too early to draw firm conclusions, a spokeswoman added.

All 155 passengers and crew of Flight Flight 1549 survived the landing on the Hudson, which made headlines worldwide.

They were rescued by boats from the sinking aircraft, with its captain the last to leave.

The wreckage of the plane was lifted by crane from the icy waters onto a barge late on Saturday.

'Sound of thumps'

Kitty Higgins of the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on Sunday that ice floes in the river were slowing the search for an engine thought to have separated from the plane when it ditched on Thursday afternoon.

911 callers describe the crash scene

But she said that the "black box" data appeared to confirm pilot testimony that the plane had collided with a flock of birds.

"About 90 seconds after take-off, the captain remarks about birds," she said, quoting the data recorder.

"One second later the cockpit voice recorder recorded the sound of thumps and rapid decrease of engine sounds. The captain acknowledges that both engines have lost power and he takes control of the aircraft."

Earlier, the plane's pilot, Capt Chesley B "Sully" Sullenberger, and his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles, described for the Board how they had suddenly seen "big, dark-brown birds" approaching, then registered them hitting the plane.

Capt Sullenberger took the decision to ditch the plane in the river dividing Manhattan from New Jersey.

Apart from one person whose legs were both broken, none of those aboard are reported to have sustained serious injuries.