Fresno, CA- Try and beat this excuse next time you have an overdue library book!

The Fresno State library has agreed to waive an overdue book fee for pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the man responsible for landing a jetliner in the Hudson River.

You see, Sullenberger had packed the book in his luggage, which was on the plane at the time of the crash January 15th. That luggage has since been collected, with other debris of the crash, as part of a federal investigation.

 Being the good patron that he is, Sullenberger called the library and asked for an extension to get the book back, or at least a waiver of overdue or replacement fees. Sullenberger had received the Fresno State book through an interlibrary loan request at a library near his home in Danville.

Fresno State took the request in stride, agreeing to forgive the overdue book, and even making plans to replace the book he checked out with a bookplate inside the cover of the copy dedicating the volume to Sullenberger.

"Here is a national hero you would think would have more important things to worry about," said Library Dean Peter McDonald. "The world now knows he contacted us almost immediately about the books he'd borrowed that were stuck in the hold of a downed plane. I'd trust my life to a man like Sullenberger. Of course we'll waive the fee."

Sullenberger is credited with landing his crippled aircraft in the river safely, saving the lives of all 155 people on board.

 

Stay with KMPH and KMPH.com as we continue to follow this story.