Flight 1549 crew honored in New York

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NEW YORK, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The pilot and crew who landed a plane on the Hudson River last month have received keys to the city of New York and a standing ovation on Broadway.

Pilot Chesley Sullenberger and his crew were honored in New York Monday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, himself a pilot, who called Sullenberger "Captain Cool."

"Thank you for renewing our faith in the strength of the human spirit," Bloomberg said.

Sullenberger and crew were treated to dinner at the Blue Fin restaurant and prime seats at the Broadway show "Chicago," where they were called on stage and received a standing ovation, The New York Post reported Tuesday.

Sullenberger, whose landing saved all 155 people aboard U.S. Airways Flight 1549, credited his crew and New York emergency teams for the successful landing and rescue.

He also said day-to-day knowledge acquired during his career paid off.

"For 42 years, I made small, regular deposits of education, training and experience," Sullenberger said. "And the experience balance was sufficient that on January 15th, I could make a sudden, large withdrawal."