Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River Jan. 15, 2009, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew.
Passengers and crew of US Airways Flight 1549 returned to the Hudson River on Wednesday to toast life after cheating death five years ago.
Led by their hero, retired Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, survivors of the Jan. 15, 2009, “Miracle on the Hudson” sipped Veuve Clicquot Brut champagne from one of the New York Waterways ferries that raced to their rescue.
“Had even one person not survived, I wouldn’t have been able to celebrate any of this,” said Sullenberger, who with his First Officer Jeff Skiles perfectly executed the splash-down landing, saving the lives of all 155 people aboard.
Sullenberger said the emergency changed his life “instantly, completely and forever.”
Clay Presley, 59, a passenger on the ill-fated flight, said he got over the scare by getting his pilot’s license.
“I was scared to death. It was a feeling beyond fear,” Presley said.
SOURCE: Kerry Burke AND Bill Hutchinson
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
