Pilot who landed jet on Hudson River reveals early-stage Alzheimers diagnosis
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the American pilot who became a national hero after landing a disabled passenger jet on the Hudson River in 2009, announced on July 15, 2026, that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
In a statement on his website, the 75-year-old retired captain said the disease is in its early stages. "For now, this means that perhaps I won't remember a name or a story, or maybe I won't sleep well, but I'm still at the beginning of a long journey," Sullenberger wrote, according to a report by HVG.
Sullenberger gained international recognition on January 15, 2009, when he successfully executed an emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after the aircraft struck a flock of geese and lost both engine power shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport. All 155 passengers and crew on board survived the incident, which became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."
Following the incident, Sullenberger was praised for his quick thinking and calm demeanor under pressure. He retired from commercial flying in 2010 after a 40-year career and has since been an advocate for aviation safety.
In his statement about the Alzheimer's diagnosis, Sullenberger said he chose to go public to help raise awareness and support others facing the disease. "Over the years, when people asked me about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I said, 'Courage is contagious,' and that day it helped everyone get off the plane safely," he wrote. "Now we need that courage to overcome this disease. Now I am part of a larger community with many others, and together we will be brave."
Sullenberger added that he decided to share his diagnosis publicly to help combat the disease and support others. "I went public with my diagnosis because I believe that by doing so, I can best face this disease and help others in the future," he wrote.
Sullenberger's story was later adapted into a Hollywood film. The 2016 movie "Sully," starring Tom Hanks as the famed pilot, dramatized the events of the Hudson River landing and the subsequent investigation .
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