Plane down in New York

A US Airways jetliner crashed into the icy Hudson River earlier this afternoon.



The plane went down after a flock of birds disabled both its engines, sending more than 150 passengers and crew members scrambling onto rescue boats.



The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says all passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 are off the plane and safe.



FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the flight had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport en route to Charlotte, North Carolina, when the crash occurred in the river near 48th Street in New York City.



Brown said the plane, an Airbus 320, took off at 3:26 this afternoon and went down minutes later.



The plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows.



Reports say rescue crews opened the door and pulled passengers in yellow life vests from the plane.