At a Glance
- Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger marked 16 years since landing Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a bird strike knocked out both engines.
- All 155 passengers survived, turning a potential tragedy into the celebrated “Miracle on the Hudson.”
- In a Facebook post, Sullenberger shared five core lessons on preparation, teamwork, composure, community, and continuous safety.
- Why it matters: The reflections offer timeless guidance on leadership and resilience under extreme pressure.
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger has revisited the 2009 emergency landing that made him a household name, using the 16th anniversary to share enduring lessons from the event.
The Emergency That Changed Everything
On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 departed New York City’s LaGuardia Airport bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport and, eventually, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Minutes after takeoff, a bird strike disabled both engines of the Airbus A320.
With no thrust and limited altitude, Sullenberger made the split-second decision to ditch the aircraft in the Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived, and the feat became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
Personal Reflections on a Historic Day
In a Facebook post, Sullenberger noted how January has always been packed for his family. The month includes birthdays for both daughters and, “much to Lorrie’s chagrin,” his own. The 2009 landing “quite literally landed in the middle of all of that,” he wrote.
He recalled that his older daughter had to cancel a scheduled driver’s license test the next week. “Typical of a 16-year-old, she was not a happy camper, regardless of the reason,” he added. Now, the personal milestones and the extraordinary event arrive together each year.
Five Lessons From the Cockpit
Sullenberger distilled his experience into five principles:
- Preparation creates options – Training and experience replace fear with clarity, turning the unexpected into a manageable challenge.
- Teamwork multiplies capability – Shared standards, trust, and purpose convert individual skills into collective strength.
- Calm, disciplined decision-making – Composure pinpoints the real problem, filters noise, and enables effective action when seconds count.
- Community matters – The bond formed that day endures, showing that human connections foster resilience and meaning.
- Safety is continuous – It is a practice, not a destination, and leadership demands clarity, competence, and ethical commitment.
“These are reminders that safety is a continuous practice, not a destination, and that leadership requires clarity, competence, and a commitment to doing what is right, even when the path is difficult,” he wrote.
Why the Memory Endures
In a conversation with News Of Los Angeles in 2025, Sullenberger said the event still resonates because it “gave people hope” during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. “This was the bit of good news that people needed to hear to reassure them that human nature wasn’t just about self-interest and greed, as it seemed at the time, but that we all had the potential to rise to the occasion, work together and save every single life,” he explained.
He believes the Miracle on the Hudson demonstrates that, divisions aside, Americans are “all more alike than we are different.” The story continues to remind people of their shared potential and offers hope for future generations.
Looking Ahead
Sullenberger closed his post with a forward-looking note: “As we enter a new year, I will continue to carry these principles with me. The work is never finished, and the responsibility to learn, improve, and uphold the highest standards remains as important as ever. Here’s to a safe, steady, and purposeful year ahead.”
