Federal investigators Thursday released the recordings between the pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 and air traffic control on the day the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River.

Pilot Chesley Sullenberger reported moments after takeoff on January 15th that the airliner had collided with birds and that both engines had failed.

"This is, uh, Cactus 1549," Sullenberger says on the recording. "Hit birds; we lost thrust in both engines. We're turning back toward LaGuardia [Airport]."

A representative with the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility (TRACON) is then heard offering the pilot different options for his landing.

"Cactus 1549, if we can get it to you, do you want to try to land runway one three?" says the air traffic control rep.

"We're unable," responds Sullenberger. "We may end up in the Hudson."

Sullenberger is heard suggesting a landing a Teterboro, before realizing that the plane will not make it that far.

"Which runway would you like at Teterboro?" says the air traffic controller.

"We're going to be in the Hudson," replies Sullenberger.

All 155 people on board survived after he successfully landed the plane in the Hudson River.

The audio recordings also include conversations between two helicopters in the air that day and LaGuardia's air traffic control tower.

One of them, flying over the Empire State building offered the first verbal confirmation that the plane was in Hudson.

"He's at 900 feet abeam the North Hudson. It looks like he's descending into the Hudson River," said the helicopter pilot.

"I have him in sight," he said a minute and a half later. "He's right next to the U.S.S. Intrepid, mid-river. "It appears they are deploying the rafts."

On Wednesday, investigators confirmed that birds were sucked into both of the planes engines. The National Transportation Safety Board says feathers and other bird material from both engines have been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington for identification.