In what could have been a much different outcome Thursday, Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg credited the swift rescue of passengers onboard US Airways Flight 1549 to the city's first responders. NY1's Josh Robin filed the following report.

The 911 calls pouring in painted a grim scene Thursday afternoon.

But what emerged was a disaster averted thanks to heroics in the sky and on the seas.

"We've had a miracle on 34th street. I believe now we've had a miracle on the Hudson," said Governor David Paterson.

"They plan for these kinds of emergencies, they train for these types of emergencies and you saw it in action," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The rescue was a joint operation of uniformed services and workers for commercial ferries who were on the scene almost immediately.

One New York Waterway boat had been gearing up for a rush hour crossing to Weehawken when the crew spotted the plane, smoke pouring from the body, and passengers screaming for help. Within three minutes they were there.

"It was scary. I see people crying, I see a woman crying, I see people trembling because of the water, the cold," said Cosmo Mezzina, New York Waterways.

"They were cheering when we pulled up. There was a lot of scared people. A woman was clutching her child in a raft. Some of the people a little anxious to get onto the boat," said Vince Lombardi, a New York Waterway captain.

They plucked dozens from the 36 degree water, offering warmth and comfort.

Meanwhile, the plane's pilot went back twice to make sure everyone had evacuated.

Police department divers also made sure, while rescuing a woman trapped in the frigid waves.

"I dumped all my equipment off and went in with just surface gear which would be a mask and a snorkel, deployed from the helicopter, swam to her, held on to her until another ferry boat came over," said NYPD Detective Michael Delaney.

Terrorism was quickly ruled out.

Federal investigators are probing whether birds flew into the engines causing the plane's failure. But so far, officials were cautious that nothing had been proven.