[donna]

I’m not sure, but wouldn’t there be the force from the bouyancy of the water on a big airplane to consider? The plane could break up and sink like a stone in freezing water.

I heard someone say that swimming in freezing water will make you lose body heat faster than just staying still in the water waiting for rescue.

[fish hawk]

No matter how you calculate it, taking your chances on a soft landing on water beats hitting buildings and malls etc. any day. With one there is a chance, with the other not only all on board will die but many in the houses and malls will also. I don't see how this would take much thinking. These people were lucky that the Hudson was so conveniently close.

[Caramelgal]

fish hawk: Duuuhhh. Hit the river or buildings. I never flew a plane in my life but have enough sense to pick the river.

Donna: ….but wouldn’t there be the force from the bouyancy of the water on a big airplane to consider? The plane could break up and sink like a stone in freezing water….I heard someone say that swimming in freezing water will make you lose body heat faster than just staying still in the water waiting for rescue.

Hum…If I had a choice between being a passenger on a jetliner loaded with volatile jet fuel, making a “hard landing” on concrete in the middle of crowed NYC neighborhood, crashing into buildings, taking out lots of other people on the ground and being engulfed in a huge fire ball or making a somewhat softer landing in the less unobstructed but freezing waters of the Hudson River, I’ll take my chances with the river and with hypothermia.