American Airlines provided support for the new movie Sully, but passengers should not expect the film to appear on the airline’s in-flight entertainment systems.
The carrier lent equipment and expertise to the production, which dramatizes the 2009 emergency landing of a US Airways flight after a bird strike disabled both engines. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, portrayed by Tom Hanks, chose to ditch the aircraft in the Hudson River when returning to New York-area airports was not possible, saving all aboard.
After merging with US Airways in 2009, American Airlines supplied an Airbus A320 for filming, granted use of a gate at LaGuardia Airport, and advised on technical details ranging from uniforms to acceptable facial hair for authenticity.
“We did it without disrupting our operations,” said Michelle Mohr, an American Airlines spokeswoman who was with US Airways during the 2009 incident, noting the significance of the story. “The story is so important. It’s one of the greatest aviation stories ever.”
Despite the carrier’s participation, American Airlines confirmed it will not screen the movie on flights.
“We are proud of the crew and how everything turned out, but we are fully aware that it could be upsetting to someone on the plane,” Mohr told the Los Angeles Times.