A passenger plane crashed into the icy waters of the Hudson River this afternoon, but what could have been a great tragedy is apparently a survival story. The plane was flying from LaGuardia to North Carolina when it was reportedly hit by birds. The US Airways flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia airport en route to Charlotte when it crashed. 146 passengers were reported on board, plus 5 crew, and they are all reported safe. A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman said the Airbus 320 may have been hit by birds. The pilots managed to safely crash land the passenger jet in the frigid Hudson River. The smooth landing kept the plane from breaking up and sinking in the river. Emergency crews, including New York City firefighters rushed to the scene to help passengers fleeing for safety in the cold river. The plane was headed to Charlotte, which of course is a transfer point for folks flying into Wilmington.