Capt. "Sully" & Crew Laugh With Letterman
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger & Crew Make Light Of The Hudson River Landing
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U.S. Airways Flight 1549 Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, center, looks at his First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, left, as host David Letterman reacts to an answer on the set of "The Late Show with David Letterman," Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/CBS, J.P. Filo)
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Play CBS Video Video Keeping Friendly Skies Safe During Katie Couric's exclusive interview with Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, the hero of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 expressed concern over the airline industry's ability to attract experienced pilots.
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Video Honoring Heroes Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and the crew of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 received a rare honor from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city of New York. Drew Levinson reports.
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Video Sully's Personal Side How has Captain Chesley Sullenberger adapted to life after the crash? Katie Couric reports on how the captain feels about his instant stardom and why his wife doesn't think he's a "hero."
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Interactive Miracle On The Hudson All survive as commercial airliner makes emergency landing in Hudson River in New York.
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Photo Essay Plane Down In Hudson US Airways jet crashed into Hudson River in NYC, passengers flee for safety in frigid waters.
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his fellow crew members from US Airways Flight 1549 appeared Tuesday on the "Late Show with David Letterman" and retold the dramatic story of the Jan. 15 flight - this time, with plenty of laughs.
An example, according to the show's transcript: Letterman mentioned a passenger who opened a door in the rear of the plane, letting in water from the near-freezing river until it was closed again. Sullenberger jokingly replied, "I think it was Steve Martin who did that," apparently referring to the comedian.
And when the host asked whether the Airbus A320 was designed to float, Sullenberger deadpanned, "We were very glad that this one remained intact and did."
The captain even addressed his now-ubiquitous nickname: "With a name like Chesley, Sully is just going to have to happen."
Sullenberger's crew mates generated several chuckles of their own, as when Letterman marveled at the plane's passage 1,000 feet over the George Washington Bridge minutes after birds apparently flew into and disabled both the aircraft's engines.
"It's better than zero feet," first officer and co-pilot Jeff Skiles said.
On a serious note, Sullenberger said the crew members have experienced some trouble sleeping, distractedness and flashbacks to the near-disaster, which was dubbed a "miracle on the Hudson" after he guided the plane smoothly down within reach of rescue boats. All 155 people aboard survived.
"You know, each of us, all five of us, have experienced some of those typical symptoms. It's just human nature," said Sullenberger, who was joined as well by flight attendants Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh.
Asked whether she was in shock after the emergency landing, Welsh said, "Still in shock, I think - I mean, I'm on the David Letterman show."
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