NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — American International Group Inc., the largest commercial insurer in the US, was the lead carrier on the policy for the US Airways Group Inc. plane that splashed down in New York City's Hudson River Thursday.

"US Airways is an important customer, and as their insurer we stand ready to help the airline, passengers and crew wherever possible," said John Jones, a spokesman for New York-based AIG, in an e-mail on Friday.

Flight 1549 averted disaster when the pilot, identified as Chesley B. (Sully) Sullenberger III, executed an emergency landing in water after losing thrust from both engines shortly after take-off. All 155 people aboard were rescued in the second major commercial airliner crash in less than a month in the U.S. to produce no casualties.

The US Airways craft had an insured value of about $36 million, said a person familiar with the situation. The policy was brokered by Willis Group Holdings Inc. and shared by other carriers, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the deal is private. AIG's Jones and Willis' Will Thoretz declined to comment on the person's account.

Insurance brokers spread the risk of major airline disasters by assembling a group of carriers to cover individual planes. Losses on aircraft coverage were down 28 percent to $1.29 billion last year through November, London-based Willis said in a Dec. 16 report.