As previously mentioned, Chesley Sullenberger, also called «Sully», was a captain for US Airways. On flight 1549, he made a critical decision that saved the lives of 155 passengers. But who is Chesley Sullenberger really?
Chesley Sullenberger was born in a small Texan town in 1951. Like many iconic pilots, he showed a profound passion for aviation from a young age. This passion led him to join the United States Air Force, where he completed his flight training.
Sullenberger stood out for his flying skills, even earning an award as an exceptional cadet. Later on, «Sully» served in the United States Air Force for five years, piloting the F-4 Phantom bomber.
After serving on the Air Force’s accident investigation board, he began flying with US Airways. As you can see, his pilot experience was both undeniable and extensive.
So, what occurred on flight 1549? On 15 January 2009, the Airbus A320, piloted by Chesley Sullenberger and assisted by co-pilot Jeff Skiles, departed from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Minutes after takeoff, the plane struck a flock of geese, rendering both aeroplane engines inoperative.
What were their options? Either return to LaGuardia Airport or perform an emergency water landing. But less than a minute later, Sullenberger communicated the tower by radio a message that narrowed their options to one: There wasn’t enough time; they had to head for the Hudson River.
Despite the dire circumstances, Sullenberger remained calm and executed the water landing, saving the lives of all onboard the Airbus A320.
His decision, deemed miraculous by many, showcased the skill and bravery of both the pilot and co-pilot, and their commitment to passenger safety.
Notably, Chesley did not leave the aircraft until ensuring all passengers were evacuated. Within an hour, all passengers were safely on land, and although some suffered from hypothermia, they were alive.
Understandably, following the incident, Chesley Sullenberger and the crew of flight 1549 received numerous tributes and recognitions. Even the newly inaugurated President Barack Obama invited them to his inauguration.
Despite the fame, Sullenberger found himself under investigation for his actions during the incident. Both he and the co-pilot had to demonstrate to the National Transportation Safety Board that their decision was the correct one.
Like all air incidents, an investigation into the forced landing on the Hudson was conducted. This investigation focused on evaluating Sullenberger’s decisions as well as the circumstances leading to the engine failure.
Several questions were raised: Did both turbines indeed fail? Was the water landing the only option? Could they have returned to an airport?
Chesley found the judicial process stressful and later expressed discomfort with being labelled a «hero». However, as expected, the black box recordings and the aircraft’s remains corroborated Chesley Sullenberger and his co-pilot’s decision: The water landing was the only viable option.
Following the Hudson River miracle, Chesley Sullenberger stepped away from commercial aviation and now resides in California with his loved ones. His retirement has been anything but idle: Up until 2022, he served as the United States’ envoy to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Council.
In addition to his role as an envoy, Chesley has been active in delivering lectures on air safety and has authored several books in 2013 and 2016. He also supported Joe Biden’s election campaign and is quite engaged on social media platforms, advocating for unity and collaborative efforts within American society.
