Imagine saving the lives of 150 people, and still being questioned. That happened to Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, the US Airways Captain who along with First Officer Jeffrey Skiles safely landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson river after it has hit by a flock of Canada geese, disabling both engines.

“Over 40 years in the air, but in the end I'm going to be judged on 208 seconds,” Sullenberger famously said of the investigation by The National Transportation Safety Board. The Board believed that the left engine was still running and the accident was a pilot error, an allegation, if proved, could have ended the career of the former US Air Force pilot.

Few in the public knew about the investigation. And that must have intrigued Clint Eastwood, the Hollywood actor, director and producer whose reel adaptation of the events of January 15, 2009, was released in September as Sully .

“Until I read the script, I didn’t know that the investigative board was trying to paint the picture that he (Sullenberger) had done the wrong thing... That wasn’t the case at all,” says Eastwood in the movie’s trailer. The film, starring Tom Hanks as Sully and Aaron Eckhart as Skiles, has grossed $175.6 million globally as on October 16. Its production cost $60 million. It has the highest IMAX opening for a 2D movie in September, despite releasing during the Labour Day weekend, which is usually seen as a dull period by Hollywood producers.

208 seconds

“It happened after 100 seconds after take-off...it was a life changing event for everyone on the airplane,” says Sulleberger. And it was over in 208 seconds.

The flight was travelling from the LaGuardia airport in New York to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and was at an altitude of 2,800 feet when it got hit by the flock of geese.

Sullenberger, then 57 yearsold, was an experienced flier who had first flown solo at the age of 16. He had graduated as an Outstanding Cadet from the United States Air Force Academy, and later became a certified expert in airline safety. Still, as he himself remarked, “No one was trained for an incident like that.” With no engine power, or nearby airports, Sullenberger decided to land the rapidly-descending aircraft on the Hudson. He managed to do that safely. A few passengers suffered minor injuries. Though hailed a hero, the incident left Sullenberger with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Flight 1549, and Sully’s heroics had an impact on the nation, coming as it was after the recession of 2008. “Something about a near miss like that makes you appreciate life as you have it,” says Eastwood. And if you are wondering, the Safety Board eventually accepted that the engines had failed and Sullenberger was correct.

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