Sully Sullenberger

Sully Sullenberger, born on January twenty-third, nineteen fifty-one, is a distinguished American retired aircraft pilot and aviation safety expert. He gained worldwide recognition as the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, which made an emergency landing on the Hudson River on January fifteenth, two thousand nine, after both engines failed due to a bird strike. Remarkably, all one hundred fifty-five passengers and crew members aboard survived this harrowing incident.

Following the successful ditching, Sullenberger emerged as a passionate advocate for aviation safety, contributing to the development of new flight safety protocols. He served as co-chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program from two thousand nine to two thousand thirteen, alongside his co-pilot from Flight 1549, Jeffrey Skiles, inspiring young people to explore aviation.

After a commendable thirty-year career as a commercial pilot, Sullenberger retired from US Airways in two thousand ten. His expertise led him to CBS News in two thousand eleven, where he became an aviation and safety expert. He is also a published author, co-writing the New York Times bestseller 'Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters' with Jeffrey Zaslow, and releasing 'Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America's Leaders' in two thousand twelve.

In recognition of his contributions to aviation, Sullenberger was ranked second in Time's Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of two thousand nine. In two thousand twenty-one, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a role he held from February third to July first, two thousand twenty-two, after being confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate.