A source familiar with the situation, however, told CNN the pilot reported a double bird strike, but it was unclear whether that meant birds in both engines or two birds in one engine.
The pilot initially said he needed to go back, and air traffic controllers started to give him clearance to do so, but the pilot said he wanted to head to Teterboro, New Jersey, because it was closer. That was the last transmission from the pilot, the source said.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane hit a flock of birds, Brown said.
Passenger Alberto Pinero said that within a few minutes after takeoff, "you just heard a loud bang and the plane shook a bit."
Passengers could smell smoke, and "the plane just started turning. ... We knew something was going on, 'cause look, we were turning back," he said.
The plane's captain came on the speaker and said, " 'Brace for impact,' " he said. "That's when we knew we were going down and into the water. We just hit, and somehow the plane stayed afloat and we were able to get on the raft. It's just incredible right now that everybody's still alive."
Live video showed the plane bobbing in the water and moving with the current surrounded by boats. Bloomberg said later Thursday that the plane was tied to a pier at Battery Park City in lower Manhattan. As night fell, Coast Guard and FDNY boats remained at the scene.
Those being treated at hospitals included a husband and wife with hypothermia at Roosevelt Hospital, as well as a flight attendant with a leg fracture, hospital spokeswoman Michelle Stiles said.
"We circled around ... the captain came on and said, 'Look, we're going down. Brace for impact.' Everyone looked at each other and we said our prayers. I said about five Hail Marys," said passenger Kolodjay, who is from Norwalk, Connecticut, and was headed to Charlotte to play golf.
Jerry Wallis, who said he was a private pilot, said he watched the plane go into the water.
"I've got to tell you, the people flying that airplane deserve all the recognition and commendation they can get," Wallis said.
The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team to the site, according to an agency spokesman.
Since 1975, five large jetliners have had major accidents in which bird strikes played a role, according to the Web site of Bird Strike Committee USA, a volunteer group dedicated to reducing the frequency and severity of the strikes.
More than 56,000 bird strikes were reported to the FAA from 1998 to 2004, according to the group's Web site.
An Airbus A320 has 150 seats -- 12 in first class and 138 in economy, according to the Airbus Web site.
People who believe they may have had relatives on the flight may call US Airways at 1-800-679-8215 within the United States, the airline said. (CNN)
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