Crew of downed plane to media: Cool it

[January 20, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The crew of the US Airways plane that landed in New York's Hudson River is asking the media to back off.

Flight 1549's captain, first officer and three flight attendants issued a joint statement on Monday saying they want the media to "respect their desire to refrain from participating in interviews until further notices" while the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the accident.

The crew said they "wish to offer their sincere thanks and appreciation for the overwhelming support, praise and well wishes they have received from the public around the world since the events of last Thursday."

They said they are willing to do media interviews "when the time is right."

[Associated Press; By JOAN LOWY]

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