They had to land somewhere. Wherever it was you could have said, "What are the odds of them landing in that spot?!"

Because it was a French book. But it does end with the Eiffel Tower landmark.
So what are the odds French astronauts landed in France?
So many stories, so little time.

So are you saying the ending of the book was better than the ending of the movie?

It made sense. Plus, I can't imagine the ending having the same impact without that NY landmark.
And yet, that's exactly how the original book ended. Without that NY landmark.

It made sense. Plus, I can't imagine the ending having the same impact without that NY landmark.
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

Now THAT would be funny

And maybe come across French-speaking apes.

The ship's computer might have been programmed to return them to New York.
Anyway, what difference does it make? If they'd landed on a seperate continent, then Taylor would have come across some other famous landmark, like the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China, the Eifell Tower, etc
~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

You're answering your own question. If you get that, in all vastness of space, the computer got them back to the speck called Earth - why don't you get that it also got them back close to their point of origin?

OP, I see your point, but get out of your house more often man, stranger things happen in real life.
Enough is enough! I have had it with these monkey fighting snakes on this Monday thru Friday plane!

Its the same reason why Superman landed where he did

Good point Alan!

Ok, let's just for arguments sakes say the ship incurred some damage (after all it wasn't supposed to land on water) and the onboard computer decides to return to home base. Isn't it logical that it would try to land in the USA ?
It wasnt me, it was the other three. Hang them!

You didn't quite get my point. Whether it be NY city or within 50 miles of it, that's a very small area compared to say landing in the middle of Russia or Africa

Actually they crash land in what was once Chesapeake Bay, further down the east coast and more inland. Taylor couldn't have left the cave and ridden his horse up the coast to find the Statue of Liberty if he'd crashed in New York, by which I guess you mean New York City and not the state of New York.