OK...enough slapping on the BACK
Yes, the pilots and FA's did a great job of ditching and evacuating the plane. Sully's reputation is a fine one by any standards.
NOW, let's wake up to reality.
AS a profession, we learned some things about ditching.
AND as a wake up call, the whole BIRD thing must be revisited. I recall a dual engine failue( due to rain)of a CFM56 engined plane, a TACA 737-300, that made a good landing on a levee a number of years ago.
All the BIRD protection groups better figure something out, because the good people of New York will not give up an airport for the birds.
I call upon ATC to review their RAW radar tapes to see if a large flock of birds was visible on RAWRADAR (non secondary). AND IF IT WAS, we must keep a watch/warning network for the already overburdened ATC system.
Please note that the pictures seem to show the planes flaps/slats in the takeoff configuration or nearly so.
I hope the CFM56 engines are retested for bird strikes after this ditching.
AND BE DARN GLAD the birds didn't get through the windshield incapacitating the pilots...