Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on New York’s Hudson River after a bird strike caused an almost complete loss of thrust in both engines, has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
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strike → land → Fame
The September 24, 2026, induction came 17 years after the emergency landing that became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”.
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that → come → Hudson
All 155 people aboard the Airbus A320 survived the ditching.
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people → survive → ditching
Sullenberger’s Hall of Fame recognition also reflects a career spanning more than four decades, including military service, commercial aviation, pilot training and advocacy for aviation safety.
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recognition → reflect → safety
How Captain Sully Sullenberger landed the plane on the Hudson River
On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 departed New York’s LaGuardia Airport for Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
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Flight → land → Carolina
The birds struck the aircraft at low altitude, causing severe damage to both engines and an almost complete loss of thrust.
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birds → strike → thrust
Sullenberger and Skiles immediately began assessing their options while communicating with air traffic controllers.
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Sullenberger → begin → controllers
The crew initially considered returning to LaGuardia.
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crew → consider → LaGuardia
Air traffic controllers also suggested Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
uncertain
controllers → suggest → Jersey
However, the aircraft was losing altitude rapidly, and the crew determined that neither airport could be reached safely.
uncertain
airport → lose → altitude
Sullenberger then chose the Hudson River as the landing site.
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Sullenberger → choose → site
The aircraft touched down on the river approximately three and a half minutes after take-off.
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aircraft → touch → off
The successful ditching allowed all 150 passengers and five crew members to escape the aircraft alive.
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passengers → allow → aircraft
Nearby ferries and other vessels quickly moved towards the stranded Airbus, helping evacuate passengers from the aircraft's wings and exits.
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ferries → move → wings
The incident became known internationally as the “Miracle on the Hudson”.
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incident → know → Hudson
What caused the emergency on Flight 1549
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and concluded that the aircraft had encountered a flock of large birds shortly after departure.
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aircraft → cause → departure
Both engines ingested birds and suffered substantial damage, resulting in an almost total loss of thrust.
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engines → ingest → thrust
The investigation found that the crew had only a very short period to respond to the emergency.
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crew → find → emergency
The aircraft was at a relatively low altitude, leaving little time to select an alternative airport or otherwise recover from the loss of engine power.
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aircraft → leave → power
The NTSB identified the bird strike and resulting dual-engine thrust loss as the probable cause of the accident.
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NTSB → identify → accident
The investigation also examined the evacuation, rescue response and other factors surrounding the ditching.
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investigation → examine → ditching
The aircraft itself remained sufficiently intact after hitting the river for passengers and crew to evacuate.
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passengers → remain → river
The incident became an important case study in emergency decision-making, crew coordination and aviation safety.
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incident → become → making
Capt. Sully Sullenberger stands beside the US Airways Flight 1549 fuselage at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in June 2011.
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Sullenberger → stand → June
The Hudson River landing was the most famous moment of Sullenberger’s career, but he had already spent decades working in aviation.
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he → spend → aviation
Born in Denison, Texas, Sullenberger learned to fly as a teenager.
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Sullenberger → bear → teenager
He attended the US Air Force Academy and graduated in 1973 before becoming a fighter pilot in the US Air Force.
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He → attend → Force
During his military career, he served as a flight leader and training officer and participated in multinational military exercises.
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he → serve → exercises
His experience included flying the F-4 Phantom II.
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experience → include → II
After leaving the Air Force, Sullenberger joined Pacific Southwest Airlines in 1980.
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Sullenberger → leave → 1980
The airline was subsequently acquired by US Airways, where he continued his commercial flying career.
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he → acquire → career
By the time he retired from commercial aviation in March 2010, Sullenberger had accumulated more than four decades of aviation experience and thousands of hours of flight time.
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Sullenberger → retire → time
What did Sully Sullenberger do after the Hudson landing
The 2009 emergency landing made Sullenberger an internationally recognised figure, but he continued working on aviation safety after retiring from airline flying.
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he → do → flying
He became an advocate for improvements in aviation safety, pilot training and crew resource management.
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He → become → safety
He also wrote and spoke extensively about leadership, teamwork and decision-making in high-pressure situations.
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He → write → situations
Sullenberger later entered public service.
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Sullenberger → enter → service
In 2021, President Joe Biden nominated him to serve as US ambassador and representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
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Biden → nominate → Organization
He assumed the position in 2022 and worked on international aviation issues.
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He → assume → issues
His story was also brought to the big screen in Sully, the 2016 film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks.
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story → bring → Hanks
The film focused on the Hudson River landing and the investigation that followed.
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that → focus → landing
…and 23 more, not listed.
The Aporia
