Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Washington on Sept. 24, 17 years after his Hudson River landing saved all 155 aboard; he said his career was about more than Flight 1549.
US Airways Flight 1549 was bound from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte when birds disabled both engines less than two minutes after takeoff on Jan. 15, 2009. Air traffic control cleared a return to LaGuardia and offered Teterboro as an alternative, but Sullenberger and first officer Jeff Skiles landed in the Hudson. One crew member and four passengers were seriously injured, and the aircraft was significantly damaged.
Sullenberger appeared by video at the Sept. 24 ceremony and was one of seven honorees, alongside NASA astronauts and aviation researchers. He described more than four decades as a pilot, advocate, union member and educator, including work to improve aviation safety, and retired in 2010. He publicly disclosed in 2026 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in August 2025. He said the condition can make names or recently told stories harder to recall and can affect his sleep.
