A black box recording of the moments leading up to the crash of a passenger jet in a New York river has revealed the pilot calmly announced "we are gonna be in the Hudson" before downing the plane in the icy waters.
Chesley Sullenberger is heard discussing options with air traffic control after telling them a bird strike had wiped out his engines.
After deciding that he would not be able to make any nearby runways, the pilot announces his intention to land on the water. "I'm sorry, say again?" is the response.
The tape released by the US Federal Aviation Administration casts more light on the January 15th incident which turned Mr Sullenberger - known as "Sully" - into a national hero.
His actions have been cited as the reason all 155 passengers and crew survived the crash in what has been dubbed "the miracle on the Hudson".
US Airways flight 1549 got into trouble shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. The recording shows the pilot told air traffic control that the plane had "hit birds, lost thrust in both engines".
"We're turning back towards LaGuardia," Mr Sullenberger adds.
Departures from the airport are stopped to enable an emergency landing, but it soon becomes clear that the passenger jet will not be able to make it.
"We're unable to ... we may end up in the Hudson," the cockpit is recorded saying, adding a few moments later: "I am not sure if we can make any runway."