The account offered Saturday night by the U.S. safety agency – based on interviews conducted with the plane’s crew – had numerous startling elements, not the least of which was the fact that Sullenberger, who has been hailed by the mayor of New York and President George W. Bush for his skill and bravery, was not at the controls at takeoff.

Instead, the plane’s first officer, 49-year-old Jeffrey Skiles, was in control. A 23-year veteran of the airline, he had just 35 hours of flying time in an Airbus A320. But as soon as the plane encountered the birds, at about 3,000 feet, or 900 meters, and the engines quit nearly simultaneously, Sullenberger, 58, took over.

With little thrust, and with airspeed falling sharply, Sullenberger lowered the nose to keep his plane from falling out of the sky. And he set his co-pilot to work at moving through a three-page checklist of procedures for restarting both engines.

It goes on from there. But you’re right that the first officer got scant mention at first. At least he’s getting more now.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/science_news/4300211.html