Chesley Sullenberger III, the hero pilot who successfully landed a crippled passenger jet in the chilly waters of the Hudson River in 2009, was nominated Tuesday to be U.S. ambassador to an international aviation group.
President Biden gave the pilot ubiquitously knowns as “Sully” the nod to serve as America’s envoy to the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Sullenberger, 70, was among a group of nine political appointees to ambassadorships, including Tom Nides as envoy to Israel, that Biden named.
They all face Senate confirmation hearings.
The retired commercial pilot and military veteran vocally supported Biden in his presidential race to unseat former President Trump. He was sharply critical of Trump’s treatment of veterans like the late Sen. John McCain.
Sullenberger was at the helm of a US Air flight leaving LaGuardia on Jan. 15, 2009, when both engines were knocked out by bird strikes.
Realizing he could not reach any airport to land safely, Sullenberger brought the jet down safely in the Hudson River between Manhattan’s West Side and New Jersey.
All 155 passengers and crew were rescued — and Sullenberger won instant immortality for his role in the so-called “Miracle on the Hudson.”
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