When U.S. Airways flight 1549 with 155 people onboard strikes a flock of birds shortly after takeoff disabling both engines, some quick decisions must be made. Chief Pilot Chesley Sullenberger considers returning to La Guardia airport, but at only an altitude of 3,200 feet makes the judgement call that landing in the ice cold Hudson River is the best alternative. The result is called the “Miracle on The Hudson” since no lives are lost that day, Jan. 12, 2009.
The following FTA inquiry was not to vilify Sully, but to better understand what happened.
Tom Hanks captures the essence of the 58-year-old Sullenberger known as “Sully” to his friends. Besides being commandeering and cool under pressure, Sully’s creed of “leading by example” comes through in full force. One of Sully’s concerns before he appeared at the FTA hearings is to have his uniform cleaned and pressed.
Water landings are particularly disastrous to aircraft. Videos show Sully kept the plane so under control that neither wing touched the water before the craft stopped. That was the real miracle.
With Clint Eastwood as director and Hanks as the lead, you do not want to miss this well-crafted, riveting show. In today’s array of paper-thin personalities we are in deep need of a hero like Sully.
The movie is currently showing at both the Barnstorm Theater and the Old Mill Playhouse in The Villages.
Jack Petro reviews movies for Villages-News.com