| Commercial pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger took to the air January 15, 2009, on what was to be a routine flight. Instead, he was forced into an emergency landing in the busy Hudson River, offshore from Manhattan, N.Y., and his stunning splashdown saved the lives of all 155 onboard US Airways Flight 1549.
In this inspirational autobiography, one of the most captivating American heroes of the decade tells his life story and offers insight on the essential qualities--leadership, responsibility, and service--that he believes have been vital to his success.
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Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger became a national hero after his miraculous water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after both of the plane's engines lost power as the result of collision with a flock of birds. Though his fame came from the actions of a few hours, his autobiography HIGHEST DUTY shows that his remarkable calm and focus came from a lifetime of responsibility and preparation. The son of a World War II Veteran, Sullenberger learned from his father that a true leader is responsible for the lives of those entrusted to him. He took this ethos with him from the day he flew his first plane (a crop-duster) at the age of 16, until that fateful day nearly 40 years later when all of the 155 passengers onboard his flight survived the crash landing--something Sullenberger made sure of by inspecting the sinking airplane twice, before, like a true captain, leaving last.
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