Capt. 'Sully' and Passengers Reunite to Open New 'Miracle on the Hudson' Exhibit: 'I'm Honored' (Exclusive)
“I’m still amazed by the enduring power of this story to touch and inspire people," Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger tells PEOPLE
Matt Warren/Sullenberger Aviation Museum
Captain “Sully” Sullenberger with passengers and crew at the grand re-opening of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum in CharlotteCapt. "Sully" Sullenberger, the heroic pilot who landed US Airways Flight 1549 on New York's Hudson River in 2009, reunited with passengers at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum to celebrate its official June 1 re-opening, which includes a new exhibit.
"It’s like seeing an old friend,” the 73-year-old now-retired pilot tells PEOPLE upon seeing the Miracle on the Hudson A320 at the museum's grand opening in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I’m still amazed by the enduring power of this story to touch and inspire people."
The stunning emergency water landing happened on Jan. 15, 2009, after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport, when the plane hit a flock of geese, disabling its two engines. Sullenberger's landing saved all 155 people on board, and many of them were reunited for a champagne toast!
"The passengers and crew of Flight 1549 have become family, and I'm honored to continue celebrating these incredible milestones with them," he says.
Sullenberger previously told PEOPLE that one reason why the crash continues to resonate now — even 15 years later — is because it "gave people hope" and was a "bright spot" during the 2008–2009 financial crisis.
"This was the bit of good news that people needed to hear to reassure them that human nature wasn't just about self-interest and greed, as it seemed at the time, but that we all had the potential to rise to the occasion, work together and save every single life," the author and public speaker said in January.
And now, with the re-opening of the new museum, Sullenberger says the newly revamped museum "will propel the story of the Miracle on the Hudson far into the future, inspiring generations to dream big and find wonder and joy in what they do.”
Related: This Is What Captain Sully Kept from the 'Miracle on the Hudson' Flight He Landed 10 Years Ago Today
Founded as the Carolinas Aviation Museum in 1992, the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, has three thematic areas alongside its collection of over 40 authentic commercial, civil and military aircraft, in addition to the Flight 1549 plane and personal artifacts from Sullenberger, crew and passengers.
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The museum also features an interactive experience, providing hands-on, educational activities dispersed throughout the space, including flight simulators, wind tunnels, photobooths and games that are accessible, educational and enriching for guests of all ages, according to a press release.
Related: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Open Up About How the Crash Changed Their Lives, 10 Years Later
The Sullenberger Aviation Museum will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST and Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
While "Opening Day" tickets have sold out, tickets for all other dates through Labor Day are on sale now. Regular admission prices are $24 for adults; $20 for seniors, veterans, military, and educators; and $18 for students (ages 5 to 17). Members and children under five are always free. Tickets can be purchased here.
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