1) When office workers looked out of their Manhattan skyscrapers, they couldn't believe what was happening down below. A plane was flying incredibly low over the river. But it…
1) When office workers looked out of their Manhattan skyscrapers, they couldn't believe what was happening down below. A plane was flying incredibly low over the river. But it wasn't out of control - it looked as if it was landing on a runway. Flight 1549 was taking off from LaGuardia airport when it hit a flock of birds. In a terrible coincidence, both engines failed. Less than five minutes later, the plane was in the water. Miraculously, all 155 passengers and crew survived. 2 According to passengers, one minute they were going up and the next minute everyone was screaming. A passenger who was sitting near the left engine told reporters that flames were coming out of it. I think everyone was saying their prayers; said one man. For a second, I thought I was going to die right there in the plane, another added. The parents of a three-year-old girl and a nine-month-old baby held their children tight while the plane was going down. 'It's good to be alive, they said. The pilot, Chesley B. Sullenberger, had only two choices: to land on water, or crash. He made a quick decision, and managed to land on the busiest part of the Hudson River Within minutes, 14 boats came to rescue the passengers who were standing on the wings and those who weren't wearing life jackets. A true hero, Sullenberger was the last to leave the sinking plane./One grateful survivor said he spoke to him while they were standing on a rescue raft. 'I said I just want to thank you on behalf of all of us,' he said. Sullenberger was very calm. He just smiled and said 'You're welcome.' 9 Read the text again and answer the questions. 1 Where did the plane take off? 2 Why did the engines fail? Were the passengers calm while the plane was coming down? 4 Why did the pilot decide to land in the river? 5 Why didn't most of the survivors get wet? Did the pilot leave the plane as soon as it landed
Here are the answers to the questions based on the text:
Where did the plane take off?
- The plane took off from LaGuardia airport.
Why did the engines fail?
- The engines failed because the plane hit a flock of birds.
Were the passengers calm while the plane was coming down?
- No, the passengers were not calm; they were screaming and holding their children tight as the plane was going down.
Why did the pilot decide to land in the river?
- The pilot, Chesley B. Sullenberger, decided to land in the river because he had only two choices: to land on water or crash, and he made a quick decision to land in the busiest part of the Hudson River.
Why didn't most of the survivors get wet?
- Most of the survivors didn't get wet because they were standing on the wings of the plane or they were rescued by boats quickly after landing.
Did the pilot leave the plane as soon as it landed?
- No, the pilot did not leave the plane as soon as it landed; he was the last to leave the sinking plane.
