Tom Hank”s character, the real life hero Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, has a fortune cookie fortune that he looks at in one scene of this film. “Better a delay than a disaster”.
Chesley Sullenberger's quote, "My whole life has been about making a difference and leaving things better than I found them," encapsulates the essence of his remarkable life and career.
Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger: Can we get serious now? Porter: Captain? Captain Sully: We've all heard about the computer simulations, and now we are watching actual sims, but I can't quite believe you still have not taken into account the human factor.
At 15:27:33, Sullenberger radioed a mayday call to New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON): "... this is Cactus fifteen thirty nine [sic – correct call sign was Cactus 1549], hit birds. We've lost thrust on both engines.
In 2010, Sullenberger retired after 30 years with US Airways and its predecessor. His final flight was US Airways Flight 1167 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he reunited with Skiles and a half dozen of the passengers on Flight 1549.
Hear what 'Sully' says about the Boeing 777 mayday call
Did passengers on flight 1549 sue?
Yes, following the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in January 2009, some passengers did sue the airline. However, many passengers praised the crew and the airline for their handling of the emergency, and some chose not to pursue legal action [1].
Sullenberger and his crew received international acclaim for their actions that day, including the passage of a Congressional resolution recognizing their bravery. Sullenberger was ranked second in TIME's "Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009” and was awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Some 3 1/2 minutes after colliding with the birds, the plane landed in the river. The fuselage's aft end made first contact, and that section suffered severe damage, notably a rupture that allowed water to enter the aircraft. However, the plane remained buoyant, thanks in part to the fuel tanks, which were not full.
So, although the plane did crash, due to the loss of altitude caused by the loss of both engines (likely due to being simultaneously struck by geese, though this has also not been confirmed), the Captain landed in the river, rather than a populated area.
Everyone's reputation is made on a daily basis. There are little incremental things—worthwhile efforts, moments you were helpful to others—and after a lifetime, they can add up to something. You can feel as if you lived and it mattered. Integrity means doing the right thing even when it's not convenient.
It reads simply, “A delay is better than a disaster.” I thought it was good advice then, and I have kept it in my binder ever since – including on flight 1549.
Jake Sully : Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream. Neytiri : You are Omaticaya now. You may make your bow from the wood of Hometree. And you may choose a woman.
Capt. Sullenberger is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and was a fighter pilot from 1973 to 1980. After that water landing, he experienced symptoms of PTSD that kept him up at night. He credits the crisis response professionals for helping him get on a path to recovery.
Fourteen years after he landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, an achievement that made him a hero and a prominent, outspoken safety advocate, Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger visited Charlotte, where a museum commemorating the event was renamed in his honor.
The Hudson River is about 50 feet deep, or about 15 meters, where the plane landed. The plane actually did both of those things, plus a bonus third thing! It floated for a while, then it sank, and then it rested on the river bed.
The event made Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger a household name after the courageous captain and his crew piloted the crippled jet and made an unthinkable belly-first landing on the frigid waters of the Hudson.
The simulation showed the pilots in the flight simulator could not make it back to either LaGuardia or Teterboro, thus proving that Sully was right in his judgement to attempt to land the plane in the Hudson River.
The slowest possible speed at impact is the goal to prevent cartwheeling. Sullenberger ditched on calm water at 120 knots, flaps extended to the intermediate position 2. Thus, this deeply experienced pilot did not find it advisable to use full flaps. All aboard survived, though there were injuries.
Sullenberger truly heroic and an unquestionably excellent pilot was his ability to push through his fear, and override it with rational thought. To be able to think, “Stay calm, keep it together, you have a plane to land,” and then actually do it. Neuroscientists call this metacognition.
The report confirmed that a large flock of birds caused both engines to fail. And it not only absolved Sullenberger and co-pilot Jeff Skiles of any wrongdoing whatsoever, but also praised them for saving the lives of all 155 passengers.
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III landed an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River just off Manhattan in an event that is still remembered as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” All 155 passengers and crew aboard were safely evacuated. The jet had taken off from LaGuardia Airport in New York when both of its engines failed.
Whitesides picked up his cell to call his wife but then threw it on the floor and said a prayer instead. He then locked arms with the passengers next to him as he heard Captain Sullenberger say, "brace for impact." “From that moment we had about 90 seconds to think about everything in life.
