Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the celebrated pilot who safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River in 2009, has announced that he has been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The 75-year-old retired pilot shared the news in a public statement, saying he hopes speaking openly about his diagnosis will encourage other families facing the disease to do the same.
“I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It is early stage,” Sullenberger said.
He explained that, at present, the condition has caused relatively mild symptoms, including difficulty recalling names, occasionally repeating stories and disrupted sleep.
Diagnosis confirmed by specialist
Sullenberger said he was diagnosed by Dr. Gil Rabinovici at the UCSF Medical Center in California.
Despite the diagnosis, he said he remains determined to move forward with optimism and continue contributing to public life.
‘A new way to be of service’
Reflecting on his decades of public service, Sullenberger said his career has included serving in the US Air Force, working as a commercial airline pilot, investigating aviation accidents and later serving as the US ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
He also spent years advocating for aviation safety reforms, including stronger pilot training standards, improved crew rest requirements, preservation of the two-pilot cockpit rule and technological improvements within the airline industry.
Sullenberger said his Alzheimer’s diagnosis now presents another opportunity to serve others.
“So this new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service. And the answer is to speak up,” he said.
He added that he hopes sharing his experience will help reduce the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and encourage other families to seek support.
Inspired by the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’
Sullenberger said the events surrounding the “Miracle on the Hudson” taught him and his family the importance of hope and resilience.
Although Alzheimer’s may eventually affect his memories, he said it will not stop him from appreciating the future.
“Though it may impact my memory of the past, this diagnosis will not prevent me from looking forward to and appreciating our future. I will navigate this chapter with my wonderful family by my side,” he said.
The pilot behind the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’
Sullenberger became an international hero on January 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of birds shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport, causing both engines to fail.
Drawing on more than 20,000 hours of flying experience, he successfully landed the Airbus A320 on the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew members aboard.
The extraordinary emergency landing earned him widespread recognition, including the Key to the City of New York, and inspired the 2016 Hollywood film “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks.