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.
Skiles’ final flight was Sunday, coinciding with his 65th birthday the following day. According to various sources, his last flight was American 87 from London Heathrow Airport (EGLL) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD).
2009 Water Landing
The so-called “Miracle on the Hudson” occurred on January 15, 2009. The US Airways Airbus A320 lost both engines shortly after departure from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) following a bird strike.
Sully and Skiles ditched the aircraft on the Hudson River and all 155 people on board survived.
At the time of the water landing, Skiles had been with US Airways for 23 years. Before that, he had worked for a cargo carrier.
Portrayed in the 2016 film Sully by actor Aaron Eckhart, Skiles has received numerous awards, including the 2015 EAA Freedom of Flight Award.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.
