London - The captain and crew of the US Airways plane which safely ditched in the Hudson River in New York last winter were to be given a rarely awarded top honour in Britain later Thursday.

Captain Chesley Sullenberger and flight attendants were to receive the rarely-awarded Master's Medal from the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) at an award's evening at the Guildhall.

"The reactions of all members of the crew, the split-second decision making and the handling of this emergency and evacuation was 'text book' and an example to us all." said Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards of GAPAN.

"To have safely executed this emergency ditching and evacuation, with the loss of no lives, is a heroic and unique aviation achievement," he added about the January 15 emergency ditching of the Airbus plane with 155 passengers and crew on board.

The Master's Medal is only awarded for an outstanding aviation achievement, GAPAN noted. (dpa)