Smithsonian Channel to Premiere BIRD VS. PLANE: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON

On the 10th anniversary of US Airways Flight 1549's miraculous landing on the Hudson River, Smithsonian Channel revisits the event to explore the impact of bird strikes in aviation accidents around the world. Featuring first-person accounts from survivors and flight safety experts working to reduce collisions, as well as leading scientists in the field of ornithology and wildlife management, BIRD VS. PLANE: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON examines commercial and military air accidents, investigates the roles different bird species play in these events and highlights groundbreaking work to prevent future occurrences. BIRD VS. PLANE: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON premieres Tuesday, January 15 at 9 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel.

While the miracle on the Hudson made headlines around the world and created a national hero in US Airways Captain Chesley Sullenberger, bird strikes are actually an everyday reality in skies across the country. Unbeknownst to much of the nation, a unique coalition of biologists and flight safety experts closely studies bird movements around airports and in-flight paths, sharing knowledge and technology to mitigate threats. In addition, the U.S. Military operates its own dedicated program, Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Hazard, or BASH, to address the conflict between military aircraft and bird species since military flights account for nearly a third of all reported bird strike incidents in the United States.

When a strike does occur, Carla Dove, a forensic ornithologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, steps in. Dr. Dove is one of the foremost authorities in this specialized field of ornithology and, together with her team, identifies birds involved in more than 10,000 strikes annually. BIRD VS. PLANE: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON zeroes in on Dove and her team's work to identify the species involved in such accidents and study their migration behaviors in hopes to better inform aviation groups and organizations around the world. The end goal, Dove says, is to "fight this for birds and for mankind."

BIRD VS. PLANE: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON is executive produced by Ash Potterton for Arrow Media. Linda Goldman and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel. The program is produced by Arrow International Media for Smithsonian Networks.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy® and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC., a subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular 4K original nature and wildlife content. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore and Latin America. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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