'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot auctions cap for schools

The hero pilot who guided a disabled jet to an emergency landing in the Hudson River is offering his pilot’s cap to help two California schools.

Capt Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s cap is being offered for sale on auction site eBay.

Allie Herson, a representative with a publicity firm working with Mr Sullenberger, said the high bidder would win the cap and a personally-written note from the captain and his wife Lorrie.

The money will go to Dougherty Valley High in San Ramon, where the pilot’s daughters attend, and a sister school, Lockwood Elementary in East Oakland.

Ms Herson says bidding started yesterday, with the highest bid by the afternoon up to 1,126 dollars (€759). The bidding will run until December 14.

Mr Sullenberger, 57, was not wearing the cap when he landed his stricken US Airways jet last January in the New York river.