# land an aircraft "on" the river or "in" the river? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839 "2013-02-10T02:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/1 "2013-02-10T02:12:56Z")
I hope someone can help me with this question. In January 2009, “Sully” Sullenberger of Danville, Calif. landed a US Airways Airbus A320 bound for Charlotte, N.C. “on”/“in” the Hudson river. Please explain why “on” is wrong, if indeed it is. If an aircraft is strategically landed, would it be “on the river” or “in the river”.? Thank you. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/2 "2013-02-10T02:35:02Z")
If it lands and remains on the surface, it’s landing on the water. If it then sinks, it’s in the water. However, if it just stuffs it into the drink, it was never really on the water and went from in the air to in the water. And remember: Any landing you can walk away from is a good one. If you get to use the plane again, it’s a _great_ landing. This one was only so-so, because they had to use boats. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/3 "2013-02-10T02:35:56Z")
He himself said that his destination was “[in the Hudson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549#Take_off_and_bird_strike).” If it was a seaplane, designed for landing on water, I’d say “on” but in this case, “in” seems most appropriate since the plane took on water quickly and sunk. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/4 "2013-02-10T02:36:24Z")
I’d say ‘in’ for the A320 flight because it wasn’t a seaplane, and it was a crash landing. I’d go with on for a plane designed for water landings that landed succesfully. ETA: It seems to be the consensus opinion. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/5 "2013-02-10T02:42:21Z")
This came from Wkipedia… “The downed US Airways Flight 1549 floating on the Hudson River”. > **[US Airways Flight 1549](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_1549)** > > US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City (LaGuardia Airport), to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States. On January 15, 2009, the Airbus A320 serving the flight struck a flock of birds shortly after take-off from LaGuardia, losing all engine power. Given their position in relation to the available airports and their low altitude, pilots Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles decided to glide the plane to ditching in the Hudson River o... ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/6 "2013-02-10T03:09:27Z")
Either would be appropriate when speaking of floating. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/7 "2013-02-10T03:11:33Z")
I vote for “on” because it seems more akin to what the pilot is attempting. On denotes on the surface of, while in denotes imo underwater. Either way, on or in is not a place you want to be no matter how “succesfully” its done. And if im ever in that place, grammar usage is going by the wayside for me ,!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/8 "2013-02-10T03:55:44Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > And if im ever in that place, grammar usage is going by the wayside for me ,!:eek: Reminds me of that cartoon where a fireball is hurtling from the sky at two guys, and one is asking the other, “I can never remember. Are we about to be killed by a meteor or a meteorite?” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/9 "2013-02-10T03:59:10Z")
George Carlin: About this time, someone is telling you to get on the plane. “Get on the plane. Get on the plane.” I say, “fuck you, I’m getting IN the plane! IN the plane! Let Evil Knievel get ON the plane! I’ll be in here with you folks in uniform! There seems to be less WIND in here!” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/10 "2013-02-10T04:04:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > George Carlin: About this time, someone is telling you to get on the plane. “Get on the plane. Get on the plane.” I say, “fuck you, I’m getting IN the plane! IN the plane! Let Evil Knievel get ON the plane! I’ll be in here with you folks in uniform! There seems to be less WIND in here!” And don’t EVEN get him started about “nonstop flights”! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/11 "2013-02-10T19:54:02Z")
You are all missing the bigger point. A plane cannot land either on or in a river, it needs to water on or in the river. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/12 "2013-02-10T21:39:35Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > You are all missing the bigger point. A plane cannot land either on or in a river, it needs to water on or in the river. Ok so the plane watered in the river. I’m fine with that. But then, what does that mean I’m doing to my plants??? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/13 "2013-02-11T04:28:26Z")
Actually, that’s quite right. Technically, you don’t _land_ a plane in or on the water, you _ditch_ a plane _in_ the water. If it remains afloat long enough for you and the crew to abandon ship, then _hallelujah!_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/14 "2013-02-11T04:34:11Z")
Unless, of course, the aircraft is a _seaplane_ designed to land _in_ or _on_ the water, as has already been established. _Ditching_ implies an emergency situation with an aircraft that _isn’t_ a seaplane. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/15 "2013-02-11T04:48:53Z")
Bird Strike would make a hell of a band name if you spelled it Bürdstryke. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/16 "2013-02-11T07:44:45Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Bürdstryke. ROCK ON, DUDE!!!pretend I have big hair. Oh, and “fnord”. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-an-aircraft-on-the-river-or-in-the-river/649839/17 "2013-02-11T07:58:00Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > You are all missing the bigger point. A plane cannot land either on or in a river, it needs to water on or in the river. > [@drewtwo99](#): > > Ok so the plane watered in the river. I’m fine with that. But then, what does that mean I’m doing to my plants??? :eek: I don’t know about about your _plants_, but if the plane is doing a Springsteen and going down to the river, then I’ma be waterin’ my _pants_.