Hero pilot invited to inauguration, officials say

From Suzanne Malveaux
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Dubbed the 'hero' of flight 1549, U.S. Airways pilot
Chesley Sullenberger will attend Tuesday's Presidential inauguration after
being personally invited by President-Elect Barack Obama, two inaugural
officials told CNN on Monday.

Sullenberger, or "Sully" as he is known to friends, safely landed a
crippled commercial airliner onto the Hudson river Thursday, avoiding what
could have been "catastrophic consequences," a National Transportation Safety
Board official said Saturday night.

Obama's Inaugural Committee is still working out the logistics, but will
also accommodate the flight crew during Tuesday's historic inauguration.

New York city officials, passengers and aviation experts have lauded
Sullenberger and the flight crew for their handling of the landing and praised
first responders who acted quickly to minimize passengers' injuries in
below-freezing temperatures.

All 155 people on board the plane survived.