On November 17th, Jeffrey Bruce “Jeff Skiles” officially retired from American Airlines.
Jeff Skiles is a pilot who has spent the last 30 years with US Airways and was a key component in the successful crash landing known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”.
Serving as the first officer on a flight from New York LaGuardia alongside Captain Chesley Sullenberger in 2009, Skiles assisted in landing the engine-damaged aircraft on the Hudson River, saving everyone onboard.
Skiles’ lifetime of experiences contributed to this astounding outcome and attributes the result to crisis management training and intense preparation.
His last flight was on a 787-9 Dreamliner operating as #AA87 from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) ORD.
Apparently, he had to buy a ticket for his wife to join him on the flight. There was also no water salute or a reception at the gate.