On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger was the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320 taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. [21] In total, he has more than 50 years and 20,000 hours of flying experience. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). We were a team. [17][25], Working with NASA scientists, he coauthored a paper on error-inducing contexts in aviation. [37] He also said: "One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. Local ferries and emergency responders were on the scene within minutes. 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near L'Aquila, Italy, killing nearly 300. Frontman Austin Garrick was inspired to write the song by his grandfather, whose reference to Sullenberger as "a real human being and a real hero" became the song's refrain.[86]. However, the plane remained buoyant, thanks in part to the fuel tanks, which were not full. [48] While in the Tri-Valley, Sullenberger decided to grant his first official interview to Jega Sanmugam of The Wildcat Tribune,[49] the official student newspaper of Dougherty Valley High School, which his daughter attended at the time. [77] In September 2020, he worked with Vote Vets and The Lincoln Project to create a commercial urging Americans to vote President Donald Trump out of office.[78][79][80]. [18], Sullenberger was employed by US Airways and its predecessor airlines from 1980 until 2010. ... There’s simply no substitute for experience in terms of aviation safety. [40][41], U.S. President George W. Bush called Sullenberger to thank him for saving the lives of the passengers,[42] as did President-elect Barack Obama,[43] who also invited him and the crew to join the presidential inauguration ceremony. Awards Sullenberger Medal of Valor", "Super ovation for 'Sully', US Airways crew", "1549's Sullenberger Becomes Honorary Policeman And Seaplane Society Member", "Fresno library lets Danville pilot's late fees fly", "Library lets late fees fly for Hudson pilot; A book checked out to Chesley Sullenberger was left in the cargo hold", "Mountain View school reunion at Giants' opener", "Sully Sullenberger | The Harry Walker Agency", "Splashdown pilot Sullenberger to lead Rose Parade", "Want to see the plane from 'Sully?' [25], In late October 2018, Sullenberger wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post ahead of the 2018 mid-term elections, calling on Americans to vote "for leaders who are committed to the values that will unite and protect us,"[73] who have a "moral compass ... competence, integrity, and concern for the greater good. The captain and pilot in command was 57 … In May 2011, CBS News hired Sullenberger as an aviation and safety expert. [56][57][58], Sullenberger threw out the first pitch of the 2009 Major League Baseball season for the San Francisco Giants. [72], On December 7, 1995, Sullenberger's father took his own life by gunshot shortly after being released from hospital following major surgery. [50] In a special February 2009 edition, the Tribune published "Heroism & Humility on the Hudson," covering Sullenberger and the Flight 1549 landing. But to have zero thrust coming out of those engines was shocking—the silence. [29] Quickly determining he would be unable to reach either LaGuardia or Teterboro Airport,[30] Sullenberger piloted the plane to a crash landing[18] on the Hudson River. [36] On January 22, 2009, he and the rest of the crew of Flight 1549 were awarded a Masters Medal by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. [27], On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger was the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320 taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. He presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2011, as well as the Swiss Economic Forum that same year. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It was destined for Charlotte, North Carolina. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [6] His father was a descendant of Swiss-German immigrants named Sollenberger. Corrections? [59], On June 6, 2009, Sullenberger returned to his childhood hometown of Denison, Texas, to participate in the town's D-Day celebration and to give the commencement address for his alma mater, Denison High School, marking the 40th anniversary of his own graduation from the school.[60]. "[32] Sullenberger was the last to leave the aircraft, after twice making sweeps through the cabin to make sure all passengers and crew had evacuated. Moellering, Amy. [16][17] He advanced to become a flight leader and a training officer and attained the rank of captain,[13] with experience in Europe, the Pacific, and at Nellis Air Force Base, as well as operating as Blue Force mission commander in Red Flag Exercises. A number of the passengers were treated for hypothermia, but only five people suffered more serious injuries. [69][70], In October 2009, it was reported that the Republican Party had approached Sullenberger about running against Democratic U.S. Representative Jerry McNerney of California's 11th congressional district in the 2010 elections. [8] In the year of his graduation, 1973, he received the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship award, as the class's "top flyer". I … Gangel, Jamie; Sullivan, Kate (December 3, 2018). [50], San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Chief Richard Price presented Captain Sullenberger with his district's highest award, the Medal of Valor,[51] which has been given only a few times in the district's history. Sullenberger's second book, Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America's Leaders, was released on May 15, 2012. Identifying error-inducing contexts in aviation. At approximately 3:29 pm, Sullenberger announced over the intercom “This is the captain. US Airways Flight 1549 - The incredible landing happened only a few minutes after the plane took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport and was hit by a flock of geese. Repeated attempts to restart the engines were unsuccessful. Captain Sullenberger is not interviewed in the show, but is portrayed in reenactments by actor Christopher Britton. [10] He was an active member of the Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison. Their salaries are so low that people with greater experience will not take those jobs. [36], A library book, Just Culture: Balancing Safety and Accountability was in Sullenberger's luggage left behind in the cockpit. Both engines were severely damaged, causing an almost complete loss of thrust. [17] He was instrumental in developing and implementing the Crew Resource Management course that is used by US Airways, and he has taught the course to hundreds of airline crew members. Sullenberger appeared as himself in a cameo role in the 2017 film Daddy's Home 2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/US-Airways-Flight-1549-incident. Paper presented at: SAE World Aviation Conference; October 19 –21, 1999; San Francisco, CA, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (. Crew, rescuers, and passengers of US Airways Flight 1549 are taken out to the site of the crash during a reunion to mark the one-year anniversary on Jan.15, 2010. [75] He also wrote that he has been a registered Republican for the majority of his adult life but has "always voted as an American.”[76], In February 2020, Sullenberger endorsed former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden for the presidency. US Airways Flight 1549 after being struck by a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff Piloted by Captain Chesley B. Following his graduation with a bachelor of science degree and his commissioning as an officer, the Air Force immediately sent Sullenberger to Purdue University to pursue a master's degree prior to entering Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT).[14]. As a result of this, Sullenberger became a suicide prevention activist, having promoted National Suicide Prevention Week and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. He served as the co-chairman, along with first officer Jeffrey Skiles (his co-pilot during Flight 1549), of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)'s Young Eagles youth introduction-to-aviation program from 2009 to 2013. [46], Sullenberger attended the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009, where he and his wife met President Obama. He left no note. "[18] Sullenberger has also been studying the psychology behind keeping an airline crew functioning during a crisis. [15][24] His safety work for ALPA led to the development of a Federal Aviation Administration advisory circular. [64], In 2011, as part of a fundraising effort, Sullenberger flew to the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the aircraft he landed on the Hudson River is on exhibit. Mila Kunis' character is also seen reading Sullenberger's English Wikipedia article. And on January 15, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal. [62], Sullenberger is an international lecturer and keynote speaker at educational institutions, corporations, and non-profit organizations about the importance of aviation and patient safety, high performance systems improvement, leadership and culture, risk and crisis management, life-long preparation, and living a life of integrity. He had been suffering from depression in the face of a long and difficult convalescence ahead of him. NTSB/AAR-10-03 - US Airways Flight 1549 Airbus Industrie A320-214, N106US; Weehawken, New Jersey; January 15, 2009 NTSB/AAR-10-04 - Boeing 737-500, NN18611; Denver, Colorado; December 20, 2008; Continental Airlines Flight 1404 [17] He was an air accident investigator for an NTSB inquiry into a major accident at Los Angeles International Airport, which "led to improved airline procedures and training for emergency evacuations of aircraft. "Hudson River Runway", the March 14, 2011, episode of the TV series Mayday, documents the events around Flight 1549's emergency landing and contains interviews with several of its real-life participants. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [8] At 16, Sullenberger learned to fly in an Aeronca Champion 7DC from a private airstrip near his home. Sullenberger notified LaGuardia’s air control that he was returning to the airport. An airport in New Jersey was also quickly ruled out. [67] He and the Flight 1549 crew received the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Trophy for Current Achievement in 2010. [53] Sullenberger was awarded with honorary lifetime membership in the Seaplane Pilots Association. [26], Sullenberger was active with his union, serving as chairman of a safety committee within the Air Line Pilots Association. Martin L, Davison J, Orasanu O, et al. Some 3 1/2 minutes after colliding with the birds, the plane landed in the river. "Inside our Schools: Student scores first print interview with US". [52] Sullenberger, Skiles, and Flight 1549's cabin crew, Doreen Welsh, Sheila Dail, and Donna Dent, were honored with a standing ovation during the Super Bowl XLIII pre-game ceremony on February 1, 2009. [83][84][85], The 2010 song "A Real Hero", by French electronica artist College and the band Electric Youth, is about Captain Sullenberger and the Flight 1549 water landing. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [5], Chesley Sullenberger was born in Denison, Texas. water landing, Hudson River, New York, United States [2009]. The fuselage’s aft end made first contact, and that section suffered severe damage, notably a rupture that allowed water to enter the aircraft. [66], In 2009 Sullenberger received the Air League Founders’ Medal from the Air League’s patron, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 2009. More than half of the passengers who were aboard live in the city. [61] He cautioned that airlines were "under pressure to hire people with less experience. [54] In 2009, Sullenberger was awarded the Founders' Medal by The Air League. His second book, Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America's Leaders, was published in May 2012. Passengers and crew then exited the plane via the forward slide/rafts and walked onto the wings or entered inflatable rafts. On January 15, 2009, ... North Carolina, the destination Flight 1549 never made it to that day. [4] In December 2018, he received the Tony Jannus Award for distinguished achievement in commercial air transportation. "[74] In a subsequent interview with Lawrence O'Donnell, Sullenberger elaborated his position, discussing his belief that voters should act as a check and balance in a partisan government. [12], Sullenberger earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy. Sullenberger is married to fitness instructor Lorraine "Lorrie" Sullenberger,[31] with whom he adopted[71] two daughters,[18] Kate and Kelly. Omissions? In 2007,[13] he became the founder and CEO of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc. (SRM), a firm providing strategic and tactical guidance to enhance organizational safety, performance, and reliability. Following his assignment at RAF Lakenheath, he was reassigned to the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, again flying the F-4D. Radio personality Garrison Keillor wrote "Pilot Song: The Ballad of Chesley Sullenberger III" for the January 17, 2009, edition of his radio variety show A Prairie Home Companion. Amy Tikkanen is the general corrections manager, handling a wide range of topics that include Hollywood, politics, books, and anything related to the. "Sully" Sullenberger Gets Personal", "The Devastating Impact of Suicide: My Personal Reflection", "Wife of Danville pilot says 'This is the Sully I know, "Pilot 'Sully' Sullenberger: 'This is not the America I know and love, "Sullenberger joins Joe Biden at Henderson rally", "Lincoln Project, Captain Sully and Vote Vets drop blistering Trump attack ad ahead of first presidential debate", "Clint Eastwood's Next Movie Revealed: Capt. [4], Sullenberger is the co-author, with Jeffrey Zaslow, of the New York Times bestseller Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, a memoir of his life and of the events surrounding Flight 1549, published in 2009 by HarperCollins. His final flight was US Airways Flight 1167 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was reunited with his copilot Jeff Skiles and a half dozen of the passengers on Flight 1549. Shortly after takeoff, the plane struck a flock of Canada geese and lost power in both engines. [88], Sully is featured in the pilot of the 2020 Fox cartoon series Duncanville. His Giants jersey was inscribed with the name "Sully" and the number 155—a reference to the 155 people aboard the plane. The event made a national hero of pilot Chesley (‘Sully’) Sullenberger. Updates? He holds an airline transport pilot certificate for single and multi-engine airplanes, a commercial pilot license rating in gliders, and a flight instructor certificate for airplanes (single, multi-engine, and instrument) and gliders. All 155 people on board survived and were rescued by nearby boats. Five people were seriously injured, but there were no fatalities. [3] In May of the following year, he was hired by CBS News as an aviation and safety expert. Throughout the film, Justin Timberlake's character repeatedly suggests to people he meets aboard planes that modern airplanes practically fly themselves, and that Sullenberger's feat was less impressive than it was portrayed, an idea for which he encounters incredulity and hostility. "Sully" Sullenberger Tale (Exclusive)", "Aaron Eckhart Joins Tom Hanks in Sully Sullenberger Movie (Exclusive)", "Movie Review: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake make 'Friends with Benefits' work", "Obvious 'Benefits' to these spicy friends", "Drive' Song Inspired by Captain Sully Sullenberger and 'Mad Max' (Video)", "Sully the service dog accompanies Bush one last time", "Duncanville Is a Mediocre Addition to Fox's Animated Lineup", "A320 Pilot Chesley Sullenberger’s Other Jobs: Accident Investigator and Safety Lecturer", Twitter Moment - Sullenberger's recollections of Flight 1549, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sully_Sullenberger&oldid=1011058067, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumni, Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles with dead external links from July 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 March 2021, at 20:00. [13], Sullenberger was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy, entering with the Class of 1973 in June 1969. He was ranked second in Time's Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009, after Michelle Obama. The street on which he grew up in Denison was named after his mother's family. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks as Sullenberger and Aaron Eckhart as Skiles,[82] it recreates the events around the Hudson River landing. Brace for impact.”. We have some carriers that have hired some pilots with only a few hundred hours of experience. [8] He went to school in Denison and was consistently on the 99th percentile in every academic category. Millions watched the aftermath on television, while others witnessed the event actually happening from the windows of nearby skyscrapers. [36] He said that the moments before the ditching were "the worst sickening, pit-of-your-stomach, falling-through-the-floor feeling" that he had ever experienced. After earning his wings in 1975 as a pilot, he completed replacement training in the F-4 Phantom II at Luke AFB, Arizona. Following completion of his graduate degree at Purdue, he was assigned to UPT at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, flying the T-37 Tweet and T-38 Talon. But only 155 people know firsthand what really happened on U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009. (br /> Italy . Sullenberger also made an appearance in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 14, 2009, to participate in the Red Carpet All-Star Parade before the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Flight: US Airways flight 1549 Crash landing: The Hudson river, New York Date: 15 January 2009. Passengers and crew standing on the wings of a US Airways plane after it made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, New York City, January 15, 2009. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The 2016 dramatic feature film Sully[81] was adapted from Sullenberger's memoir Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters. [47] A ceremony for Sullenberger was held on January 24, 2009, in Sullenberger's hometown of Danville, California, where he was presented with awards including Danville's "Key to the Town",[34] and was named an honorary Danville police officer. Watch breaking news videos, viral videos and original video clips on CNN.com. Head to the Carolinas Aviation Museum", "The French Legion Of Honor Presents Chesley Sullenberger With The Officier Award", "Sully receives UK Air League medal from Duke of Edinburgh", "The Crew of US Airways Flight 1549 to be Presented with the National Air and Space Museum's Trophy Award for Current Achievement", Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, "Capt. According to his sister, Sullenberger built model planes and aircraft carriers during his childhood; she says he became interested in flying after seeing military jets from an Air Force base near his house. Sullenberger's publicist said that he had no desire to run for public office. [63], He served as the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade's Grand Marshal. He is best known for his role as pilot in command in the 2009 ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan after both engines were disabled by a bird strike; all 155 people aboard survived. Within days of the emergency landing, the aircraft was removed from the river, and in 2011 it was put on display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte. Sullenberger's speech before Congress concerning U.S. civil aviation is featured in Michael Moore's 2009 documentary Capitalism: A Love Story. "After the Miracle". The dispute lasted until a settlement was reached between Gazprom and the Ukraine on January 30th, 2009. "[38], The National Transportation Safety Board ruled that Sullenberger made the correct decision in landing on the river instead of attempting a return to LaGuardia[39] because the normal procedures for engine loss are designed for cruising altitudes, not immediately after takeoff. [3][19][20] (Pacific Southwest Airlines was acquired by US Air, later US Airways, in 1988.) Everybody aboard the aircraft survived, and the event was portrayed in the film 'Sully,' featuring Tom Hanks. While Sullenberger became a national hero to many, some were critical of his decision to land in the Hudson River. However, as the plane continued to descend in a glide, Sullenberger believed that it would be unable to reach LaGuardia. He said that the training he received from a local flight instructor influenced his aviation career for the rest of his life. Dodd, Johnny (September 19, 2016). [55] Admirers of Sullenberger also started a Facebook fan site that, as of late February 2009, had half a million members. Weiss, Mitch; Bomkamp, Samantha (March 3, 2010). Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, US Airways jet recovered from Hudson River, List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft, "US Airways captain the 'consummate pilot, "Sullenberger, Skiles tapped for Young Eagles", "'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot Sullenberger retires", "'Sully' Sullenberger named CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert", "In a Split Second, a Pilot Becomes a Hero Years in the Making", "Hero Pilot's Records, IQ Scores Released by School District in 'Accident, "United Methodist church nurtured hero pilot", "Hero Pilot 'Sully' Sullenberger Tries to Stay Grounded", "Two-Minute Bio: Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III", "Safety Reliability Methods, Inc.: About us", "Profile: Captain Chesley Sullenberger, "hero of the Hudson, "New York plane crash pilot Chesley B. Sullenberger III: Committed to air safety", "US Airways pilot a mix of modesty and professionalism, says Coronado friend", "US Airways flight 1549: Airline releases crew information", "FAA Airman record for Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III", "Captain's skill saved lives of everyone", "GOP tried to recruit hero pilot 'Sully' for 2010 Congress bid", "High Reliability Organizations Deauville Conference 2007 Archive", "US Airways airplane crashes on Hudson River – Hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger III saves all aboard", "Dramatic details released on plane crash onto the Hudson", "N.Y. jet crash called 'miracle on the Hudson, "Hero pilot tells of 'shocking' moment engines cut out", "Worst moments of my life: pilot tells of ditching in Hudson", "Sullenberger Made the Right Move, Landing in the Hudson", "NTSB: Sully Could Have Made it Back to LaGuardia", "Bush salutes Hudson River pilot who landed plane", "Obama, Sullenberger invitation to inauguration", "Text of S.Res.17 Recognizing and honoring Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger III, his copilot Jeffrey Skiles, the crewmembers of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, and the first responders, ferry operators", "Text of H.Res.84 Honoring the heroic actions of the pilot, crew, and rescuers of US Airways Flight 1549", "US Airways Flight 1549 Crew receive prestigious Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators Award", "Student scoops journalists with Sully interview", "Pilot 'Sully' Sullenberger gets hero's welcome", "Calif. Fire Dept. On February 24, 2009, Sullenberger testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure that his salary had been cut by 40 percent, and that his pension, like most airline pensions, was terminated and replaced by a PBGC guarantee worth only pennies on the dollar. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 with call sign 'Cactus 1549' was scheduled to fly from New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Charlotte Douglas (CLT), with direct onward service to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.The aircraft was an Airbus A320-214 powered by two GE Aviation/Snecma-designed CFM56-5B4/P turbofan engines.. January 15, 2009 – US Airways Flight 1549 lands in the Hudson River in New York City approximately three minutes after takeoff, and after hitting a flock of birds.