Greece is a goner. Goldman may be going. Oil is gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. Big Board shares are tanking. The recently rampaging New York Mets have returned to true form, dropping three out of their last four. The Justice Dept is probing Apple for its Microsoft-like behavior. And Sully blew it. What! Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the PR hero of 2009 for ditching his US Airways plane into the Hudson River, really didn't have to stage one of the big PR special events of the year. That's what National Transportation Safety Board investigators now say.

Sullenberger decided to crash land his Airbus 320 in the drink rather than return to LaGuardia Airport. It was a very risky, but a successful move for the 155 passengers aboard the plane. Subsequent emergency flight stimulations conducted by Airbus and the feds show that Sully could have made it back to the Queens airport, according to a report in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal.

Sullenberger's flight, of course, was the real thing. It was far from a controlled stimulation. He made a snap decision and skillfully handled the high-profile water landing. He also shepherded the plane's passengers to safety. For that, he deserves praise.

Sully became an instant hero in a country desperately in need of one. He served as grand marshal of the Rose Bowl parade and scored an invite to President Obama’s Inauguration. His book sold thousands of copies.

Sully's many TV appearances and speeches inspired millions. Airbus and the feds will never diminish his fame, no matter what the facts show.

Sullenberger's bust in the O'Dwyer's Hall of Fame will remain.