Since they were in New York to be honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg with the key to the city, the pilot and crew on US Airways Flight 1549 paid David Letterman a short visit as well.

Together with the other four members of the crew, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger got to have a little fun with the dramatic story last night on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman. Sullenberger safely landed a plane on the Hudson River last month after a flock of birds had caused the plane's engines to lose power.

Unlike most tributes paid to the pilot for saving all 155 people on the plane, including himself, Letterman’s was highly amusing, filled with funny remarks.

Letterman mentioned a passenger who opened a door in the rear of the plane, letting in water from the near-freezing river until it was closed again. Sullenberger jokingly replied, “I think it was Steve Martin who did that,” referring to the comedian.

Nearly a month after the “Miracle on Hudson River,” Sullenberger was finally able to poke some fun at the experience. Asked whether the Airbus A320 was designed to float, Sullenberger deadpanned, “We were very glad that this one remained intact and did.”

The other crew members generated several chuckles of their own, as when Letterman marveled at the plane's passage 1,000 feet over the George Washington Bridge minutes after birds apparently flew into and disabled both the aircraft's engines.

“It's better than zero feet,” first officer and co-pilot Jeff Skiles said.

All five were Mayor Bloomberg’s guests of honor during a Monday ceremony when he presented them with symbolic keys to the city, thanking them for “sparing our city and so many families from an awful tragedy.”