Clinton, who is virtually without a voice at the moment, commented on Stephanopoulos' departure through a statement read to reporters by White House spokesman Mike McCurry.
On Sunday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the plane's cockpit voice recorder captured sounds of loud thumps seconds after the pilot and first officer commented on a nearby flock of birds.
At a news conference Sunday, NTSB board member Kitty Higgins said the cockpit voice recorder captured sounds of loud "thumps" seconds after the pilot and first officer commented on a nearby flock of birds.