Historic Plane, Once Piloted by Sullenberger, Passes Quickly Through Pikesville

Pikesville resident Joe Pachino knew he had to see the "Miracle Plane on the Hudson" pass through Pikesville this morning.

It's the plane that US Airways Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger made famous by landing it on the river, and it's a part of history, Pachino said.

At about 11:10 a.m. Pachino was waiting at one place in Pikesville that offers a good view of the beltway, and easy accessibility as well: the Park Heights Avenue overpass.

"I thought this would be a little piece of history, passing right underneath the beltway," the Pikesville DJ said after the wingless, tailless plane went quickly by at 11:18 a.m. "It was interesting," he said, smiling.

Kris Meyer and her daughter Alex, also of Pikesville, arrived on the overpass just a few minutes too late to catch any glimpse of the hull. "I wish they would have made a bigger deal out of it," Kris said, disappointed.

Only four people, including Patch, showed up at Park Heights for the event.

The plane was made famous on Jan. 15, 2009, when the Airbus A320 took off from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Shortly after takeoff, US Airways Flight 1549 hit a flock of geese, killing the plane's engines.

Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles were forced to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River. Then they evacuated the plane and all 155 passengers onto the wings, where rescuers reached them in boats.

The plane is being transported to a museum in North Carolina. After it passed Park Heights Avenue, it was headed toward I-70, then to I-68 in West Virginia.

View more coverage of the plane's voyage.