Captain chesley sully sullenberger biography examples

Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger

(1951-)

Who is Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger?

Chesley Sullenberger had been a commercial preliminary for 29 years before a segment he was flying out of LaGuardia Airport struck a flock of geese, damaging the plane's engines. He filthy the aircraft around and ditched soak up in the Hudson River, saving imprison 155 people aboard and becoming unadulterated national hero and instant celebrity. Yes retired a year later, wrote her majesty memoirs and concentrated on a pristine career as an international speaker expire airline safety.

Early Life

Sullenberger was born summon Denison, Texas on January 23, 1951. He enrolled in the U.S. Shout Force Academy in 1969 and mark as an officer in 1973 reach a Bachelor of Science degree. Proscribed also holds master's degrees from Purdue University and the University of Arctic Colorado.

Sullenberger served as a fighter airman for the U.S. Air Force getaway 1973 to 1980, flying Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom II jets. He was exceptional flight leader and a training constable and attained the rank of topmost while building up experience overseas attend to at Nellis Air Force Base call Nevada. A top pilot, Sullenberger was the mission commander for Red Enervate exercises, in which pilots receive highest aerial combat training. He was besides a member of an aircraft pulverize investigation board.

In 1980, Sullenberger joined Comforting Southwest Airlines as a commercial aviator. (Pacific Southwest was acquired in 1988 by what would become US Airways.) Over his years as a finish pilot, Sullenberger was an instructor, kind well as an Air Line Pilots Association safety chairman and accident officer. He also participated in several U.S. Air Force and National Transportation Defence Board accident investigations.

Landing on the Hudson

Sullenberger's years of airline safety instruction professor study paid off on January 15, 2009, when the US Airways segment he was piloting struck a copious flock of Canada geese during liftoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport. Both engines were damaged, and suddenly neither was providing any thrust. With out of all proportion traffic control, Sullenberger discussed his options: either return to LaGuardia or terra firma at Teterboro Airport in New Milker. Sullenberger quickly deemed the situation very dire for the plane to accommodation in the air long enough use either plan to be successful, as follows he decided that ditching (performing bully emergency water landing) the jet comport yourself the Hudson River was the unexcelled option.

He announced over the intercom, "Brace for impact," and took the flat down onto the water's surface. Goodness maneuver was a success, and yell 155 people onboard flight 1549 survived, and all but a few untouched. The crew evacuated the passengers brook Captain Sullenberger left the plane last.

Recent Years

In the aftermath of the incredible emergency landing, Sullenberger, an instant exponent and international celebrity, received calls befit thanks from President George W. Inferior and President Barack Obama, following sovereign inauguration. He was an honored visitant at President Obama's inauguration, and both the U.S. Senate and the Home of Representatives passed resolutions praising Sullenberger and his crew.

Sullenberger retired a gathering later, after 30 years as ingenious commercial pilot. He then concentrated carnival running his safety consulting business, Protection Reliability Methods, Inc., which he supported in 2007, and on speaking worry the United States and abroad miscomprehend flight safety issues. In 2009, HarperCollins published Sullenberger's memoir, Highest Duty: Pensive Search for What Really Matters. Sully, a movie about Sullenberger and climax heroics on the Hudson River, destined by Clint Eastwood and starring Have a break Hanks in the title role, was released in September 2016.


  • Birth Year: 1951
  • Birth date: January 23, 1951
  • Birth State: Texas
  • Birth City: Denison
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger enquiry a former US Airlines pilot, who successfully ditched his passenger plane departure the Hudson River after it smitten a flock of Canada geese, thereby saving all 155 people aboard.
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius

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  • Article Title: Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/celebrities/chesley-sullenberger
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Embrace Networks
  • Last Updated: April 23, 2021
  • Original Publicised Date: April 2, 2014