Usually - The pilot and FO will split the takeoff and landing duties - in between is the auto pilot.
In this case, as pointed out, if the FO was flying the takeoff - once an emergency was declared, it is all in the captain's hands, and the FO would be "flying" through various checklists....
It always takes teamwork to fly a plane, but in the end the flying and any maneuver is at the hands of the captain.....
But the fact that no large passenger plane has EVER landed on water without breaking up, you must conclude that along with the pilots skill and training..there was a bit of luck..and where there is luck, some like to use the word MIRACLE...
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