Hero of Hudson River crash landing trained at Luke

  • Published
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The pilot who crash-landed a crippled airliner in New York's Hudson River Jan. 15, saving 155 lives on board, is an Air Force Academy graduate who received his pilot training in the Air Force. 

Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger steered U.S. Airways Flight 1549 toward the river when both engines failed less than five minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. All 150 passengers and five crew members survived the incident. 

From June 6, 1975, until Jan. 21, 1976, 2nd Lt. Sullenberger was a member of Class 76-CBL and trained in the F-4 B (basic) course with the 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron here at Luke Air Force Base. Prior to his assignment to Luke, he underwent undergraduate pilot training at Columbus AFB, Miss. 

The Academy graduate served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1980, according to his resume. He was an F-4 Phantom II fighter pilot who served as a flight leader and training officer in Europe and the Pacific. He also was the Blue Force mission commander during Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. 

President George W. Bush and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were among the first to publicly laud Mr. Sullenberger for quick thinking and heroism that averted a catastrophe. 

Courtesy of Air Force News and 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs