Why the Crew of Flight 1549 Isn’t Talking

January 21, 2009 | Posted in: News,US Airways

UPDATE: Click here to read my post on the captain’s first public appearance. Capt. Chesley Sullenberger was supposed to appear on the “Today Show” this week – but that was canceled. And what about the thousand or so other requests to interview the entire crew – which includes First Officer Jeff Skiles and Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Doreen Welsh and Donna Dent – any movement there? Not at the moment. While US Airways has actually hired a publicist to deal with the media fallout, so far, no one’s talking. According to a statement released by the US Airline Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants, the crew is grateful for all the well wishes and support, but – here’s the rest of it: “As the NTSB investigation is ongoing, [the crew] asks that the media respect their desire to refrain from participating in interviews until further notice.” –US Airline Pilots/Assn of Flight Attendants To clarify matters, the pilots union asked the captain to stay off the air – per Newsday — and here’s a quote from that article: “The union asked Sullenberger to stay off the airwaves in deference to the National Transportation Safety Board’s ongoing probe, which the union is participating in. But Peter Knudson, an NTSB spokesman, said his agency has ‘no objection to the crew talking to anyone’.” The statement goes on to say that the crew WILL talk – but only “when the time is right.” I think they’re being smart. What do you think?

Share|

14 Responses to “Why the Crew of Flight 1549 Isn’t Talking”

1. Elliot Campbell says:

   January 21, 2009 at 2:26 pm

   While I know we’d all want to hear what the crew has to stay, this is definitely a smart move. My guess is the crew is probably responding to a message from the legal department at US Air. I’m not a lawyer, but know you never want to talk during an ongoing investigation.

   And who knows, despite the checks and refunds that US Air provided the passengers, who knows what legal action might occur? The crew definitely did a great job by all accounts I’ve heard, but imagine, despite this, a passenger on the flight eventually decides to sue. Who’s word do you take if the crew were allowed on these shows, and the passenger disputes something that the Captain or FA’s say publicly. Definitely best to keep quiet, from a business poitn of view, on speaking in the public domain.
2. Ed Larkin says:

   January 22, 2009 at 4:05 pm

   Please change your title. You have NOT stated WHY they’re not talking. You are guessing and asking for more guesses.
3. K R Jeffcoat says:

   January 22, 2009 at 4:21 pm

   A smart move since “heroes” can turn into “villains” quickly should the investigation uncover information not known right now. Personally, I’d fly with any of the crew involved right now, without hesitation.
4. Bob says:

   January 22, 2009 at 4:41 pm

   They’re afraid that the passengers will sue.

   The way the lawyers work it, if it was 99% “act of God” and 1% the airlines fault, they sue the airlines for 10 Billion for each passenger, and the lawyers keep half.

   Soon 1% of the GDP of the USA will go to law suits.
5. Rick Seaney says:

   January 22, 2009 at 4:48 pm

   Ed, see the update I added.
6. Debbie says:

   January 22, 2009 at 6:03 pm

   Why were several passengers on this flight on The Ellen show today?
7. Mike says:

   January 22, 2009 at 9:02 pm

   What harm could there be in the crew simply telling the public what happened? Have we grown so frightened of lawyers that telling the truth is now wrong?
8. Traci says:

   January 22, 2009 at 11:29 pm

   Alright, I’ll take a guess. After it came out that the same a/c had a problem with one of its engines just a couple of days prior…I think USAir wants to be sure they find bird pieces in both engines to back up the pilot’s claim of a double bird strike before they allow them to say anything more. It’s a liability issue.
9. Phyllis Dixon says:

   January 23, 2009 at 12:32 am

   Any large business operates this way. It’s the proper way to conduct their affairs and protect shareholders. Since we do operate in a litgious society, common sense dictates that the investigation must run its course as free as possible of the “noise” from each crew members voice. They are probably getting agents to tell their stories in books, TV dramas, etc., too, now that I think of it.
   In any case, the actions of captain and crew were a credit to them and I support them 100%.
10. Carol G says:

    January 23, 2009 at 4:30 am

    Well CNN published similar problems were reported by witnesses(3) flyingon the returned to Le Gaurdia NY -same plane on the same route 2 days earlier, same noises, same birds I think not?! – Now theres the problem for passengers sueing or maybe the Captain and flight crew just furious nothing was done to check the plane out???

    Maybe you can find out more the article was published on CCN a few days ago.
11. Carol G says:

    January 23, 2009 at 6:59 am

    Sorry my previous posting got a bit scambled so I resend my comments again.
    Well CNN published similar problems were reported by witnesses(3) flying the SAME plane on the same route 2 days earlier, same noises…..same birds I think not?! -This plane almost returned to Le Guardia NY. Now I think thats the problem for keeping quiet & passengers sueing OR maybe the Captain and flight crew just furious nothing was done to check this same plane out or it wasn’t done properly???

    Maybe you can find out more the article was published on CCN a few days ago.
12. Carol G says:

    January 23, 2009 at 7:02 am

    Heres the CNN story I spoke about:

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/19/hudson.plane.folo/index.html

    The incident was recorded in pilots log.
13. Chris says:

    January 23, 2009 at 11:16 am

    I think it’s definitely in their own best interests, the union is looking out for them. ANYTHING they say, even if 99.9% of us think it’s reasonable or positive, will be spun by some plaintiff’s lawyer to make the crew or airline look bad.
14. SIMON FIRTH .U.K. says:

    January 23, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Look what happened to the Captain of the British Airways flight, in the U,K, when that ran out of power and ended up, short of the runway,They hailed him a hero then crucified him