Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is a retired American airline pilot best known for his emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. After both engines failed due to a bird strike shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, he successfully landed the plane, saving all 155 passengers and crew on board. Sullenberger was born on January 23, 1951, in Denison, Texas. He served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force before becoming a commercial pilot. His actions during the emergency earned him widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including the Airline Pilots Association Superior Airmanship Award.