"Sully" is Back in the Air

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who ditched an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River on Jan. 15 after a collision with a flock of geese killed power to both engines minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia, is officially back in the air. He flew with 1st Officer Jeffrey Skiles from Charlotte, N.C., to New York's LaGuardia Aiport, their first flight together since that fateful ditching.

The ditching later became called "The Miracle on the Hudson." All of the 155 passengers on US Airways flight 1549 were saved, and "Sully" was celebrated as an American hero.

Reporters had been told that Sullenberger's flight out of LaGuardia, later in the day, rather than the Charlotte flight into New York, would be his first official flight. Additionally, Sully flew two passenger flights Sept. 11 as part of his re-training process.

When asked why US Airways released incorrect information, a spokesperson said the flight out of LaGuardia was important because it was "symbolic" for the crew. Which indeed it would be.

In fact, Still, Sully said his first request to the airline after Jan. 15 was that he be reunited with the entire crew of Flight 1549 for a chance to complete the trip they started that day. Skiles said that his immediate reaction was “Count me in.”

There were some unusual passengers on Sully and Skiles' flight. Four people who were on flight 1549 back in January were on the flight, wanting to be on Sully and Skiles' return to the air today.