Sully 2016

As Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) and First Officer Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) settle into their routine on US Airways Flight 1549, a tranquil afternoon transforms into a chaotic nightmare. Just three minutes into the journey, at an altitude of approximately 2,800 feet, the Airbus A320 collides with a flock of birds, crippling both engines. With time ticking away, Sully and Jeff must swiftly assess their situation, concluding that they are unable to reach nearby airports, including Teterboro Airport, which is mere miles away.

As a seasoned captain with an unblemished record spanning decades at US Airways, Sully’s instincts kick in, prompting him to make the split-second decision to ditch the aircraft onto the Hudson River. Although the crew and passengers suffer minor injuries, the miracle of survival is attributed to Sully’s quick thinking and extraordinary piloting skills.

As news of the miraculous landing spreads, Sully becomes an overnight hero, but the trauma of the event lingers, manifesting in his reliance on alcohol to cope with the overwhelming media attention, which not only targets him but also his family, including his wife, Lorraine (Laura Linney).

Meanwhile, in New York City, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begins investigating the incident, led by Charles Porter (Mike O’Malley), assisted by Dr. Elizabeth Davis (Anna Gunn) and Ben Edwards (Jamey Sheridan). As the inquiry unfolds, Sully’s narrative takes shape: he recounts the events leading up to the forced water landing, emphasizing his request to return to LaGuardia Airport, but ultimately concluding that there was insufficient speed or altitude to attempt a safe landing.

Theoretically, the plane still had enough power to land safely at either LaGuardia or Teterboro airports. The NTSB’s findings, supported by confidential computer simulations, seem to support this notion. However, Sully and Jeff remain steadfast in their assertions, insisting that their experience and training led them to make the only decision possible under the circumstances.

As tensions between the parties escalate, Sully’s relationship with his union representative, Mike Cleary (Holt McCallany), and his friend Larry Rooney (Chris Bauer) becomes increasingly strained. With over 40 years of service and a million passengers safely transported under his belt, Sully faces the ultimate judgment: whether his extraordinary actions will be vindicated or criticized in the endgame of just 208 seconds.

As the investigation into the miraculous landing of Flight 1549 unfolds, Skiles insists that Sully’s unconventional decision to land on the Hudson River was a result of his flipping the Auxiliary Power Unit, a critical procedure that ranked 15th on the Airbus checklist. However, Sully vehemently disputes this notion, claiming that the left engine was severely damaged and lacked any semblance of power. The NTSB’s skepticism prompts Sully to request a re-run of the simulation with real pilots at the controls, which yields identical results: successful landings at both LaGuardia and Teterboro airports.

As the inquiry continues, Sully is compelled to recount his harrowing recollection of the fateful flight. The scene unfolds on a bitterly cold day, with Sheila Dail (Jane Gabbert), Doreen Welsh (Molly Hagan), and Donna Dent (Ann Cusack) tending to the passengers as they prepare for takeoff. But fate has other plans, as a devastating bird strike cripples both engines, leaving Sully with no choice but to activate the Auxiliary Power Unit. In a remarkable display of crisis management, Patrick Harten (Patch Darragh), the air traffic controller, works tirelessly to clear the skies and provide Sully with options for an emergency landing.

With time running out, Sully makes the split-second decision to bring the plane down on the Hudson River, issuing his now-iconic command: “Brace for impact.” As Patrick loses radar contact, he is whisked away to an isolation room pending further investigation. Meanwhile, Sully expertly guides the plane onto the water, where he orders a swift evacuation. Within 24 minutes, seven ferries (Thomas Jefferson, Intrepid, and Yogi Berra) converge on the scene, with over 1,200 rescue workers springing into action.

As the passengers make their way to safety via the wing and forward exits, Sully takes one final look at the plane before boarding a ferry himself. The first call he makes is to his wife, his voice heavy with emotion as he waits for word on the fate of the 155 souls on board. When Patrick finally reaches him, Sully’s relief turns to jubilation upon learning that every single passenger survived.

As Sully (Tom Hanks) delves into the computer simulations, he’s convinced that the scenarios are woefully inaccurate. Undeterred by bureaucratic red tape, he takes matters into his own hands, orchestrating a series of phone calls to ensure that the simulations are publicly scrutinized. His concerns are validated when the NTSB concurs with his criticism, prompting a re-run of the simulations. This time around, the computer models allow for a 35-second pause before diverting the plane, a subtle yet crucial adjustment that significantly alters the outcome.

The revised LaGuardia simulation concludes with the plane making an uneventful landing just short of the runway, a far cry from the catastrophic scenarios previously depicted. The Teterboro rerun is equally dramatic, ending in a heart-stopping crash into nearby buildings before the airport. As the NTSB pours over the evidence, including the recovered port engine retrieved from the Hudson River, they confirm Sully’s account that the damage was indeed caused by the errant flock of birds, vindicating his decisive actions during the crisis.

In a show of humility and gratitude, Sully (Tom Hanks) extends his praise to everyone on board Flight 1549, as well as the rescue teams who worked tirelessly to ensure their safety. His selflessness and unwavering commitment to getting it right serve as a testament to his character, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.