The British-American filmmaker, fresh from his Oscar victory for historical drama ‘Oppenheimer’, will receive the honour for services to film
On Jan 15, 2009, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the river after both engines lost thrust after the aircraft struck a flock of geese following take-off from New York's LaGuardia airport.
All 155 passengers and crew survived and the event was dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson".
Hanks portrays the pilot in the movie while "Olympus Has Fallen" actor Aaron Eckhart plays his co-pilot Jeff Skiles.
"I wanted it to be just like it was and that's pretty close to what it was," Eastwood said at the film's premiere in New York on Tuesday.
"I fly a little bit too so I know what a water landing looks like and feels like."
"Sully" hits cinemas worldwide from Thursday.