New York, Jan. 16: A US Airways jet crashed Thursday in the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey after a flock of birds apparently struck its engines.

However, all 155 people on board have survived, and the pilot is being hailed as a hero.

The Airbus 320 went down near 48th Street in Manhattan shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport.

"We''ve had a ''Miracle on 34th Street'' and now we have a miracle on the Hudson," said New York Governor David Paterson in a statement.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the pilot told him he walked the plane twice to make sure everyone was off the plane, before exiting the aircraft.

The pilot''s identity hasn''t been released, Bloomberg said, adding that the man is waiting to speak with the National Transportation Safety Board before talking to anyone else.

The pilot of the plane was Chesley B. Sullenburger III, his daughter confirmed to FOX News.

She declined to give additional details or confirm a TMZ report that he was a former Air Force flight leader and training officer who flew F-4s from 1973 to 1980.

The airlines CEO, Doug Parker, refused to speculate on what caused the incident but said the company will cooperate fully with investigators. (ANI)