Records show plane suffered previous malfunction

WASHINGTON (AP) – Investigators say the North Carolina-bound US Airways jetliner that crashed-landed into New York’s Hudson River last week experienced an engine compressor failure two days earlier.

A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman says the flight had a different pilot that day, and the board plans to interview that pilot.

Flight 1549 had just left LaGuardia Airport on Jan. 15 when the pilot reported a birdstrike and loss of engine power. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was able to glide to plane to an emergency river landing and there were no fatalities.

CNN reports that passengers on the Flight 1549 that left LaGuardia on Jan. 13 reported hearing loud bangs followed by an announcement from the pilot that the aircraft was either returning to LaGuardia or going to try to land. However, passengers said a short time later the situation appeared to return to normal and the flight continued on to Charlotte, N.C.

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