that everyone survived."

"Had even one person not survived," he added, "I personally couldn't have celebrated any of this."

Five years ago, the aircraft left LaGuardia Airport and ran into a flock of geese that damaged both engines, forcing the crew to land in the frigid waters of the Hudson.

Within four minutes of landing, multiple New York Waterway ferry boats, aided by the U.S. Coast Guard and police from New York and New Jersey, descended on the scene to rescue the 155 people on board.

The complicated maneuver, which was called an "amazing piece of airmanship" by a former National Transportation Safety Board director, resulted in only a few minor injuries and made heroes of the crew.

Passengers at the news conference thanked the rescue teams.

"Without these people, my children would nothave had a father, my mom wouldn't have had a son," Barry Leonard said.

After the news conference, the group of survivors and rescuers boarded a boat on the Hudson River to celebrate.

"We're going to toast to life," Leonard said.

Sullenberger took time off to write a book and speak about aviation issues before returning to the cockpit in fall 2009. He also joined the airline's flight operations safety management team.

After his last flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, in March 2010, Sullenberger said he was "chosen by circumstance" to be a spokesman for the aviation industry and plans to work independently in that role.