On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) and First Officer Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) embark on US Airways Flight 1549, flying from LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Just three minutes into their ascent, while soaring at around 2,800 feet (850 m), their Airbus A320 collides with a flock of birds, crippling both engines. Faced with a dire situation and realizing they couldn’t reach the nearest airports (with Teterboro being the closest option), Sully demonstrates remarkable composure as he makes the critical decision to ditch the aircraft into the Hudson River.
As a highly respected captain with a spotless record during his tenure at US Airways, Sully is initially celebrated as a hero for ensuring the safe evacuation of all crew and passengers with no fatalities, despite suffering from minor injuries himself. Yet, the aftermath becomes emotionally challenging for him. Laura Linney plays his wife, Lorraine Sullenberger, who, along with Sully, finds themselves in the unwanted limelight of media scrutiny as the press hounds them for information regarding the incident.
During their stay in New York City for the investigation, Sully discovers preliminary data from ACARS indicating that the left engine may have still been operational at idle power. Charles Porter (Mike O'Malley) leads this high-stakes investigation, assisted by Dr. Elizabeth Davis (Anna Gunn) and Ben Edwards (Jamey Sheridan). Sully firmly believes that what transpired was not a crash but a forced water landing. He asserts that he requested to return to LaGuardia, but his extensive piloting experience led him to understand that the airbus lacked the necessary speed and altitude for such a maneuver, ultimately choosing to steer the plane towards the Hudson. In a moment of high tension, he placed both his life and the lives of the passengers on the line with his decision.
Contrary to Sully’s account, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) posits that the aircraft still had sufficient power to land safely at LaGuardia or Teterboro. This sensational disagreement gradually exacerbates the tension between Sully and the investigating bodies. Mike Cleary (Holt McCallany) represents Sully and Skiles, while Larry Rooney (Chris Bauer), a friend and colleague, offers his support.
For four decades, Sully safely transported millions of passengers, yet he finds himself facing the possibility of being judged solely on the 208 seconds of that fateful flight. Jeff underscores that the miraculous survival of all on board was largely due to Sully's decisive action in activating the Auxiliary Power Unit, buried deep among the Airbus's procedures. Sully contemplates how the simulations presented by the NTSB suggested an alternative scenario where a successful landing at either airport was possible.
As the investigation intensifies, the NTSB fears that their findings may point toward pilot error, a development that could severely jeopardize Sully’s career. In response, he arranges for the simulations to be repeated using live pilots to demonstrate the actual conditions they faced, results which yield successful landings.
In recollections of the harrowing flight, Sully recalls the cold, grueling circumstances as a bird strike rendered both engines useless. The crew, including stewardesses Sheila Dail (Jane Gabbert), Doreen Welsh (Molly Hagan), and Donna Dent (Ann Cusack), find themselves grappling with the chaos that unfolds following Sully's decision to land on water. Amidst the crisis, Patrick Harten (Patch Darragh), the Air Traffic Controller, clears paths for the emergency landing while ensuring safety protocols are adhered to.
As the A320 touches down on the river, emergency services, including seven ferries like the Thomas Jefferson and Intrepid, respond within a mere 24 minutes, with over 1,200 rescue workers involved in the operation. Passengers and crew evacuate through the wing exits, leading to the iconic image of them perched on the wings and life rafts, a testament to Sully’s leadership and quick actions.
Upon reaching safety via ferry, Sully's immediate concern turns to his wife, as he anxiously discovers that all 155 souls aboard survived. Faced with skepticism regarding the computer simulations, Sully argues that they are unrealistic, given the pilots’ foreknowledge of the emergency they would need to manage, having practiced under similar scenarios numerous times prior. The NTSB eventually concedes to his reasoning, resulting in a new round of simulations allowing for an adjustment in timing.
Ultimately, the analysis of the port engine, now retrieved from the river, confirms Sully's earlier claims about its damage due to the bird strike, validating his instincts during the emergency and reinforcing his commendable actions that day. As he reflects on the incident, Sully credits not just his efforts, but the heroic contributions of everyone involved in the successful rescue operation.
