A Russian pilot whose passenger jet lost power in both engines after colliding with a flock of gulls shortly after takeoff Thursday managed to land in a cornfield smoothly enough that only one of the 233 people on board was hurt seriously enough to be hospitalized.

The captain, 41-year-old Damir Yusupov, was hailed as a hero after the feat.

The Ural Airlines Airbus A321 was carrying 226 passengers and a crew of seven as it took off from Moscow's Zhukovsky Airport en route to Simferopol in Crimea.

Russia's Rosaviatsiya state aviation agency chief, Alexander Neradko, told reporters that the crew "made the only right decision" to immediately land the fully loaded plane with its wheels up after both its engines malfunctioned.

"The crew has shown courage and professionalism and deserve the highest state awards," he said, adding that the plane was fully loaded with 16 tons of fuel.

There was no panic on board even though the touchdown was rough, passengers said.

"I think we are all alive thanks to him," A passenger told Russia Today. “The pilot did a great job; he landed the plane really carefully."

The Emergencies Ministry said that 74 people asked for medical assistance after the incident. Health authorities said 23 people, including five children, were taken to the hospital. All but one have been released following check-ups.

The airline said Yusupov, the son of a helicopter pilot, is an experienced pilot who has logged over 3,000 flight hours. He became a captain last year.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, hailed the pilots as "heroes" and said they will receive state awards. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev opened a session of Cabinet by praising the crew and asking the transport minister to explain what happened.

The quick thinking of the captain drew comparisons to the 2009 "miracle on the Hudson," when Captain Chesley Sullenberger safely landed his plane in New York's Hudson River after a bird strike disabled its engines.

Experts say the two near-tragedies could force aircraft makers and regulators to rethink engine designs so they can better withstand bird strikes, although the technology to do that is not yet available.

(With input from AP)