‘MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON’ LANDS IN LAKELAND

SUN ’n FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, FL. – Jeff Skiles, First Officer on US Airways Flight 1549 that safely landed in the Hudson River one year ago last month, will be a featured participant at this year’s SUN ’n FUN International Fly-In & Expo, which will be held April 13 – 18 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida.

Skiles, 50, was at the controls with Captain Chesley Sullenberger when the Airbus A320 jet experienced multiple bird strikes and lost power to both engines shortly after taking off from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport on Jan. 15, 2009. Unable to restart either engine, the Flight 1549 crew prepared its passengers for the only option available to them. As history has happily recorded, Captain Sullenberger safely landed the airplane on the chilly waters of the Hudson River just west of midtown Manhattan.  Of the 150 passengers and five crew members on board, only a few received minor injuries.  

“Whether you are an aviation enthusiast or not, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a chord with people across the country and around the world with its inspiring story about passengers and crew successfully overcoming almost insurmountable odds,” said SUN ’n FUN President John Burton.  “SUN ’n FUN is truly looking forward to hosting one of the key players in this remarkable story – First Officer Jeff Skiles – at this year’s SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In and Expo.  Many have seen the dramatic video footage and read about the crew’s efforts to safely land a disabled passenger jet in one of the world’s most congested airspaces.  But few have had a chance to hear Jeff’s first-person account of what happened, from uneventful take-off to the remarkably safe and successful water landing.   What a singular opportunity for SUN ’n FUN participants and guests this year.” 

After confirming plans to attend SUN 'n FUN, Skiles said, “I am very excited to be invited to come to Lakeland and share the tale of US Airways Flight 1549 with the SUN ’n FUN community. Flight 1549 is a story about people. People overcoming adversity, people triumphant over hardship, and I’m warning you, my story might not be what you are expecting.” 

Skiles will relay this story during a number of scheduled activities throughout the week at SUN ’n FUN, highlighted by an Evening Program at the Florida Air Museum’s outdoor Pavilion on Wednesday, April 14, beginning at 8 p.m.; a “Museum Mingle” for members of the Florida Air Museum on Thursday, April 15, at 7 p.m.; a Museum Forum on Friday, April 16 at 2 p.m.; and a host of other activities during the week at SUN 'n FUN. 

Jeff Skiles started flying at the age of 16 and to date has logged more than 20,000 hours as a pilot.  His mother and father – both pilots – introduced him to flying at an early age.  His early flying time was spent with his father over the Alcan Highway to Alaska. Jeff went on to become a certified flight instructor (CFI), flew cargo aircraft and later worked for a commuter airline. He has spent the past 24 years as a First Officer and Captain for US Airways and currently serves as the Vice President of the Coalition of Airline Pilots’ Associations (CAPA).  Jeff also enjoys recreational aviation and currently owns (and flies) a WACO Cabin bi-plane. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in geology. Skiles resides in Oregon, Wisconsin, with his wife and three children.