Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger

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The Hero of the Hudson hung up his wings Wednesday.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who became a national hero last winter after he miraculously crash-landed a stricken US Airways flight in the river and got everybody out alive, is retiring, the airline said.

Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh, who helped guide 150 passengers to safety after the crash, also called it quits, the airline confirmed.

"I am extremely proud of Captain Sullenberger and Doreen for their quick thinking and courageous actions on January 15, 2009," airline honcho Doug Parker said in a statement.

"We will miss them and thank them for all they have given to our customers during their years of service with our airline."

A 59-year-old former fighter pilot, Sullenberger began flying for US Airways in 1980. Welsh, who also is 59, joined the airline a decade earlier.

Both were based in Charlotte, N.C., which was where Sullenberger was headed when his jet hit a flock of geese shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport.

With the power knocked out, Sullenberger somehow managed to steer Flight 1549 into a perfect water landing and, with the help of Welsh, got everybody off the plane.

Source:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/03/03/2010-03-03_captain_chesley_sully_sullenberger_flight_1549_miracle_on_the_hudson_pilot_to_re.html