On Jan 16, 11:20*am, Tech Support wrote:
Witness also said gear was down. If true, was bad decision.


I know what usually happens if a GA plane ditches with the gear down,
and only assume the same would happen to a big transport. After
hearing more about the pilot's background and experience I seriously
doubt he would make that kind of mistake. Witnesses are notoriously
unreliable, especially the casual observer, non-aviation type. At any
rate, the captain made the right decision when put in a tight spot.
The jet could have made it back to LGA on one engine easily enough,
losing both is a nightmare scenario.