Capt Sully 'Hero of the Hudson' retires in US

Profile: Chesley B Sullenberger III

The "hero" pilot who landed a crashing plane safely on New York's Hudson River has retired after 30 years, with plans to campaign for better flight safety.

Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's final flight touched down in North Carolina 17 minutes ahead of schedule.

The 59-year-old, who joined US Airways' predecessor airline in 1980, says he also plans to write a second book.

His skilful "splashdown" of US Airways Flight 1549 in January 2009 saved the lives of all 155 people on board.

The plane's engines had failed after colliding with a flock of geese.

Regrets

"Each generation of pilots hopes that they will leave their profession better off than they found it," Capt Sullenberger said at his retirement ceremony, a private affair for US Airways employees.

"In spite of the best efforts of thousands of my colleagues, that is not the case today."

He said he would continue to talk to politicians about raising minimum qualifications for pilots and lowering the maximum number of hours pilots are able to work in a single day.

For his final flight, Capt Sullenberger was reunited with his co-pilot from the Hudson landing, First Officer Jeff Skiles.

The pair were greeted with applause from people at the airport.

Media reports said that half a dozen of the passengers from Flight 1549 joined them for the journey.

Capt Sullenberger has been unable to keep a full flying schedule since the so-called "miracle on the Hudson" - he has been busy with speaking engagements and appearances to promote his recent memoir, Highest Duty.