It took just 211 sec. for Chesley Sullenberger to guide U.S. Airways Flight 1549 to the safety of the Hudson River on a frigid January afternoon, and a New York minute for his legend to flourish. In this slim volume, William Langewiesche lets some of the air out of Sully's soaring mystique. The Vanity Fair correspondent, a professional aviator himself, hails the captain as a "superb pilot" whose "extraordinary concentration" helped save the lives of 150 passengers and five crew members after his Airbus A320 struck a flock of Canada geese and lost thrust in both engines. In the aftermath of the averted tragedy, Sully became a national hero, feted by all but a few stray critics carping over his inevitable book deal and talk-show victory lap. Langewiesche isn't one of those — but he does intend to spread the praise around.

Hardcover