June 2, 2009

The concerns center over whether the facility would draw birds to the area, possibly increasing the risk for a bird strike. New York City officials insist the trash would not pose a hazard, as it would either be kept inside containers or inside the building.

The plan has drawn fire from several sources, including the co-pilot of US Airways Flight 1549. That flight splashed down in the Hudson River in January after losing power in both engines, the result of a bird strike shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport.

“That’s just insane,” Jeff Skiles, co-pilot of Flight 1549, told the Associated Press regarding the garbage facility. “We have a lot of difficulty keeping birds away from airports as it is.”