A specialist examines how the 2016 film Sully, starring Tom Hanks, portrays the real-life emergency plane landing. The movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the story of pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his difficult decision to land a damaged plane on the Hudson River, as well as the investigation that followed.
In addition to Tom Hanks, the film Sully features Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Anna Gunn, Autumn Reeser, Holt McCallany, and Jamey Sheridan. It received one Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Editing, and Tom Hanks was also nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for his performance. Sully earned close to $244 million in theaters and currently holds an 85
In a special feature for Vanity Fair, former pilot Rob Mark analyzed emergency plane landing scenes in movies. He began by praising the performances of Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart, noting they convincingly portrayed pilots who were both skilled and frightened, realistically showing they were operating outside of normal procedures.
The speaker pointed out a key moment in the film: when air traffic control offered alternate landing options, Sully immediately realized they wouldn’t reach either one. Mark concluded that this left Sully with no real option but to attempt a water landing, hoping to avoid hitting the George Washington Bridge.
Check out Mark’s further comments on this below:
Since we know the aircraft is already too low to clear the buildings, reaching the airport isn’t possible. The pilots expressed concern about ditching in the water, but the alternative – maneuvering between buildings filled with civilians – is too dangerous. We can’t risk the lives of those people on the ground.
Mark points out that Sully was a highly skilled pilot, but he also deeply trusted his co-pilot, often turning to him after considering all possibilities. He describes Sully essentially double-checking, asking, “Did I overlook anything?” Mark finishes by reiterating how both terrifying and simple the situation was, and encourages readers to see his full analysis below.
They had no choice. They were already flying too low, and with several people already on board, attempting to target buildings was too risky – they wouldn’t have been able to clear them anyway. It was a simple matter of physics – it just wouldn’t work. The only available landing space was the water.
Everyone on board US Airways Flight 1549 – all 155 people – survived the plane crash, although many were hurt. Passengers received apologies and money to cover their lost belongings. After the crash, it was determined that the plane hit a flock of birds, so officials killed Canadian geese in various locations around New York City.
While ‘Sully’ might not be considered among the very best films of Tom Hanks or Clint Eastwood, it’s a solid addition to both of their impressive bodies of work. Rob Mark’s review highlights how the movie realistically portrays the difficult situation where the pilots had to make dangerous choices because they had no better alternatives.
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2025-12-31 21:32