60 Minutes Nabs First Interview with Heroic Pilot
Chesley B. Sullenberger
60 Minutes has scored the first interview with Chesley Sullenberger, the celebrated US Airways pilot who safely landed Flight 1549 in the middle of New York City's Hudson River on Jan. 15.
Sullenberger will be interviewed by CBS Evening News anchor and 60 Minutes contributor Katie Couric, alongside his four-member crew, The Associated Press reports. The interview is scheduled to air Feb. 8.
The sit-down comes a week after Sullenberger canceled a scheduled Jan. 19 interview on NBC's Today with Couric's old colleague Matt Lauer. Today said the pilots' union wanted to allow the National Transportation Safety Board more time to investigate before allowing Sullenberger to speak to the press. The network said it was a postponement.
"What Captain Sullenberger did in the cockpit on Flight 1549 was heroic and admirable. Unfortunately, people close to him have not acted nearly as admirably over the past few days," NBC said. "They gave us their word and then broke their commitment. We wish Captain Sullenberger the best."