Sullenberger gets key to NYC

The crew of the crippled US Airways jetliner that ended up in the frigid Hudson River was honored Monday at City Hall, where they were presented with keys to the city by Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- who called them "five real American heroes."

The pilot, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, co-pilot Jeff Skiles and flight attendants Doreen Walsh, Sheila Dail and Donna Dent were welcomed by Bloomberg.

"I certainly hope that you feel at home here," the mayor said. "And you should. New York City . . . is a city full of heroes."

The mayor added: "I can't think of a safer group of people to give keys to the city to."

In an incident Gov. David A. Paterson dubbed "The Miracle on the Hudson," Sullenberger and the crew managed to safely ditch the big Airbus A320 in the Hudson after a bird strike disabled both of the plane's engine shortly after takeoff Jan. 15 from LaGuardia Airport.

All 155 people on board, including passengers and crew, safely exited the downed aircraft. Rescues were made by Circle Line ships, tugboats, ferries, the U.S. Coast Guard, police and fire personnel as the plane floated in the Hudson.

"It's been called a miracle, but in this case there is no miracle without the experience of these five crew members sitting here," Bloomberg said.

"They're not just here to serve you drinks and peanuts," the mayor said. "Thank you for saving so many lives and renewing our faith in human strength and spirit."

Bloomberg said that tonight the pilot and crew will be treated to a night "on the town" --- tickets to "Chicago" and dinner at Blue Fin restaurant.

Asked what he thought of New York, Sullenberger said: "It's even more beautiful than I imagined."

He also attempted to diffuse the spotlight, saying: "This was a crew effort."

Earlier on Monday Sullenberger said moments after the bird strike he "knew immediately it was a very serious situation," but remained confident he could get the plane down safely and in one piece.

The interview took place on "The Early Show" on CBS.

Sullenberger also appeared on "Good Morning America."

The captain, known as Sully, and crew of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 are in the middle of a whirlwind tour of the city.

On "The Early Show," Sullenberger recalled the plane striking the birds shortly after takeoff -- disabling both engines.

"I felt the birds hitting the airplane," Sullenberger said Monday on "The Early Show."We were being pelted," he said. "I knew immediately it was a very serious situation."

Sullenberger, who quickly considered -- then ruled out -- an emergency return to LaGuardia and an emergency landing at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey said he "the only viable option" -- ditching in the Hudson.

"I was confident I could do it," Sullenberger said on "The Early Show," adding: "Based on my experience, I just knew that it was possible."

Sullenberger said he and Skiles were "intensely focused" on the task at hand.

"We were just concentrating on doing our jobs," Sullenberger said.

"We were using gravity as we descended . . . to keep the airplane flying," he said. "We glided to a landing."

Along the way to that miraculous ditching, however, Sullenberger said: "I had to suppress my natural adrenaline rush . . . and not allow it to distract me." He said: "It's hard to believe it actually happened."

Sullenberger was interviewed Sunday night on "60 Minutes."

He also received a standing ovation Saturday night at a showing of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" at the Lincoln Center Theater.

But, the veteran pilot said Monday, that there has been too much about him and "not enough about the team."

He called the entire experience "surreal."

-Click for 127 photos of Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger in NYC, and the Hudson River plane ditching

The Associated Press contributed to this story