Standing in frigid temperatures at the time and watching a plane with people standing on the wings floating down the Hudson was a sight many could not believe.
Five years later, those people remember it like it was yesterday.
"We have much to be thankful for. Much was saved that day," said Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, pilot.
Five years ago, courageous pilot Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew, piloted a crippled US Airways jet and made an unthinkable belly first landing on the frigid waters of the Hudson River.
They are now able to raise their glasses of champagne with some of those passengers in a "toast to life" that all 155 onboard were rescued.
"Many people came together, did their jobs exceedingly well, to give us such a wonderful outcome," Sullenberger said.
Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport for Charlotte, North Carolina when a flock of geese disabled the engines.
Circling west and then over the George Washington Bridge, the plane with 150 passengers and five crew members glided to a water landing.
"I saw half the plane submerged in the water and was just astounded by the miraculous event that just occurred and was just thankful, just absolutely thankful," said Ian Wells, a passenger.
Passengers then began moving precariously out onto both wings in what has become an iconic picture.
"I went out and slipped off the wing and went into the water," said Eileen Shleffar, a passenger.
Watching this unbelievable drama unfold, ferry captains from New York Waterways then became the first to reach the crippled plane and began rescuing people.
Captain Vince Lombardi's boat was the first.
"It just goes to prove what discipline and hard work and team work, how successful it turns out," said Vince Lombardi, a ferry captain.
"Had even one person not survived I personally couldn't have celebrated any of this," Sullenberger said.
Many of those saved have moved on from this historic event choosing to remember it in their own way, but are all part of a special second family.
"We're going to celebrate all of this. It's amazing what has happened in the last five years. And we look forward to celebrating," said Barry Leonard, a passenger.
