Tom Hanks Stars as Hero Pilot in First Trailer for Sully

Posted on June 30, 2016

In 2009 Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger was piloting US Airways Flight 1549 out of New York when the plane hit a flock of birds. Both engines failed and there was not enough time to get to an alternate airport or to return to La Guardia. Sully managed to set the Airbus down on the Hudson River with no fatalities or major injuries. He inspected the sinking plane twice to make sure all 155 passengers and crew had been rescued, then picked up the plane's log books and calmly exited the aircraft.

A quiet man, he was quite surprised at all the media attention. He was hailed a hero for his cool demeanor and quick thinking that day. Sully was an Air Force captain with 40 years of experience and was also an airplane crash investigator. Now Clint Eastwood has directed what looks like a riveting biopic about Captain Sullenberger, with Tom Hanks playing the hero captain. Aaron Eckhart plays Sully's co-captain.

The film, which is based on the autobiography Highest Duty by Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow, goes into the aftermath of the crash and all the intense investigation and questioning Sully was put through by the crash investigators. It is their job to be tough, but Sully notes in the film that his entire career will be judged by his actions during those few minutes in 2009.

Laura Linney, Holt McCallany, and Jerry Ferrara co-star in the film which hits theaters on September 9, 2016. Take a look:

More from Watchers Watch