On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger and 155 passengers experienced a lifetime of terror in a brief few minutes when a flock of birds caused engine failure on U.S. Airways flight 1549 less than two minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York.
"It was the worst sickening pit-of-your-stomach, falling-through-the-floor feeling I've ever felt in my life. I knew immediately it was very bad," said Sullenberger in an interview with CBS News.
For a few seconds Captain Sully was frozen, stunned by fear of losing the passengers in a crash before taking action. His training, muscle memory and instinct kicked in after what seemed like an eternity when Captain Sully realized that the best chance that they all had was to perform an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
Landing a plane is an extremely dangerous endeavor even on the runway. Everything has to be perfect in order to be successful, but with no other options he and his first officer began figuring out just what needed to be done in order to land a passenger jet on water.
Drawing from his training as an Air Force pilot of thirty years and his time as an flight instructor that specialized in mid-flight emergencies, Captain Sully was able to gain control of the damaged plane long enough to land it safely in the Hudson.
Most of us only experienced this story through the news, but soon we will all be able to take a front row seat and visually experience this real life drama. Clint Eastwood, director of American Sniper, is set to direct a film honoring Captain Sully and his heroism. As one of the industry's most talented and celebrated directors, we can rest assured that the Captain Sully's story will be accurately portrayed and given the on-screen justice it deserves.
My fellow Purdue students can also celebrate Captain Sully as a fellow Boilermaker. Many of you might not know this, but Captain Sully actually received a master's degree from Purdue University in 1973. "At Purdue, I studied how machines and systems should be designed... I believed learning these could have applications down the road, and I was right," said Sullenberger.
Retelling this story the way it should be told will require a talented actor who can effectively portray the hero pilot and all his emotions. Eastwood and Warner Brothers have looked to the tried and trusted Tom Hanks to play the part, and for good reason. Among other celebrated chapters in his acting career, his role in Captain Phillips (the story of the ship captain who helped save his crew from Somali pirates) gives us confidence that Hanks will do an incredible job as Captain Sully.
