Beijing, Sep 27: China simulated the 2009 landing of an aircraft in Hudson river in the US, using a full-scale model and rescuing 150 'passengers' in the country's first search and rescue exercise involving a civil aircraft, a media report said.
The rescue teams helped 150 airplane "passengers" to safety Wednesday as part of an emergency drill here, reported China Daily.
The full-size model was placed in the Yangtze River estuary to simulate the US aircraft that had ditched into the water with two broken engines, said Huang Jianwei, a senior official.
"We're confident that if a similar accident happens in water near the airport, we're capable of making a rescue," said Huang.
The Shanghai drill was successfully completed in 40 minutes.
Zhai Jiugang, another official, said the drill, China's first search and rescue exercise involving a civil aircraft, was a simulation of United States Airways Flight 1549 which landed safely in the Hudson river in 2009 with 155 people on board.
Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, who was piloting Flight 1549, ditched the plane in the icy river, and all on board were rescued. It became known as "Miracle on the Hudson".
Huang explained that the rescue was a race against time since the aircraft would sink after 45 to 60 minutes.
Before they succeeded Wednesday in carrying out the drill, there were five rehearsal drills.
Four of the rehearsals failed due to strong winds capsizing the life rafts, Huang added.
"We wouldn't be able to do the rescue exercise if the wind was stronger, because the aircraft couldn't land on the water in that case," said an official.
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