‘Miracle on the Hudson’ First Officer Retires

Jeff Skiles continued flying for American Airlines after the 2009 incident.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 10:50 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Jeff Skiles, pictured second to left, and the US Airways 1549 crew. [Credit: American Airlines]

Key Takeaways:

Jeff Skiles, known as the first officer on US Airways Flight 1549 during the "Miracle on the Hudson," has retired from American Airlines after a decades-long flying career.
In 2009, Skiles co-piloted the Airbus A320 that successfully ditched in the Hudson River after a bird strike, saving all 155 people on board.
Unlike Captain "Sully" Sullenberger, Skiles continued flying, eventually becoming a Boeing 787 Dreamliner captain for American Airlines, with his final flight coinciding with his 65th birthday.

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Jeff Skiles has retired from American Airlines after a decades-long flying career. Skiles is best known as the first officer on US Airways Flight 1549, which landed in the Hudson River in 2009.

While Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger retired from US Airways in 2010, Skiles continued flying at US Airways and later American Airlines when the two carriers merged in 2013. Most recently, Skiles was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner captain for American.