'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot retires

STAFF REPORT

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who piloted a US Airways flight during its emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January of last year, retired Wednesday.

The 59-year-old Sullenberger joined US Airways’ predecessor airline in 1980.

Flight attendant Doreen Welsh, who was also on Flight 1549 when it landed in the Hudson, is also retiring.

Welsh, also 59, joined US Airways’ predecessor airline in 1970.

All 150 passengers survived the emergency river landing on Jan. 15, 2009, when the Airbus A320's engines were struck by a flock of geese.

"Sully" said his three-decade career had been a "passion."

Sullenberger officially returned to work last October after the media frenzy over his accomplishment had died down. No reason was given for his departure.

But he sounded a bitter note in his retirement statement saying that pilots always hoped to "leave their profession better off than they found it. In spite of the best efforts of thousands of my colleagues, that is not the case today."

Following the "Miracle on the Hudson," he wrote a book, attended President Barack Obama's inauguration in Washington, and appeared on multiple TV talk shows.