Miracle on the Hudson: How “Sully” and Flight 1549 Inspired a Nation

Fifteen years ago, Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger instantly became an American hero and captivated the nation after he and First Officer, now Captain Jeff Skiles, miraculously landed US Airways Flight 1549 safely in the Hudson River and saved all 155 people on board. The heroic act was covered around the world—serving as one of the first major news stories where social media played a pivotal role—and was later memorialized in the hit motion picture Sully starring Tom Hanks. Ahead of the event’s 15th anniversary, the Paley Center is reuniting Captain Sullenberger, Flight 1549 passengers, and Katie Couric—who conducted Sullenberger’s first sit-down interview—to share their memories and stories from that fateful day and to reflect on how the “Miracle on the Hudson” elevated the entire nation and forever changed their lives, the media, and the country.