Lufthansa is championing the professionalism of the crew onboard the US Airways Airbus A320 that crash-landed in the Hudson River, saying their actions show that intense training and extremely good hiring protocol is "a decisive factor" in running a safe operation.

Lufthansa, a partner to US Airways under the Star Alliance, is "extremely happy that everybody got out of the aircraft", said Lufthansa VP, the Americas Jens Bischof this evening at the unveiling of the carrier's flagship lounge at New York JFK airport.

He adds: "I am impressed that the flight crew handled that so professionally."

The German operator offered to help its US Airways colleagues in the moments after learning about the crash. Per protocol, the Star partner's emergency response centre "offered assistance immediately", says Bischof.

US Airways A320 crash 
 © PA Photos

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news