Katie Couric will get a first interview with the heroic pilot of the plane that landed in the Hudson River January 15.
Wired PR News.com – Former NBC “Today” show host, and current anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” Katie Couric has been granted first dibs on the first interview with the heroic pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549. Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger piloted a plane that made a crash landing into the Hudson River on January 15, after a flock of birds reportedly caused the disabling of the plane’s two engines. All 155 passengers on the plane survived the crash, with very few sustaining any serious injuries.
As reported by the Associated Press, Couric’s former “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer was originally slated to have the first interview with Sullenberger, however it was postponed in accordance with requests by Sullenberger’s pilot association to delay interviews pending an investigation of the Hudson River crash. A spokeswoman for NBC is quoted by the AP as stating in regards to the change in plans for the first interview, “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. They gave us their word, and then broke their commitment. We wish Captain Sullenberger the best.”
Couric’s interview with Sullenberger is set to air February 8 on “60 Minutes” on CBS.
Photo credit: Fred Thompson presidential campaign
