Captain Sully’ Sullenberger reveals Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis, turns personal battle into mission of hope
Miracle on the Hudson: “Even in this sudden crisis, the flight attendants immediately drew upon years of training and began the evacuation. Passengers began filing out onto the wings and into the rafts at the front doors. The back doors were below the waterline; the aft rafts were useless. #Flight1549” ~ per Sully
Nearly two decades after inspiring the world by safely landing a disabled passenger jet on New York City’s Hudson River, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is facing a very different challenge—one he says requires the same courage that defined the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
The retired airline captain, now 75, announced July 14 that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, sharing his story publicly in hopes of raising awareness and offering encouragement to millions of families confronting the progressive neurological disorder.
Speaking to People magazine, Sullenberger said he received the diagnosis in August 2025 after noticing subtle but persistent changes in his memory.
“It is early stage,” he said. “For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well. But I am in the beginning of this long journey.”
Sullenberger became an international symbol of calm under pressure on Jan. 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 lost both engines after striking a flock of geese shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. His decision to glide the Airbus A320 safely onto the Hudson River saved all 155 passengers and crew, an event forever remembered as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
Following the emergency landing, Sullenberger devoted much of his retirement to public service, advocating for stronger aviation safety standards, improved pilot training and pilot wellness. He later served as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, helping shape global aviation policy.
Now, he says, that commitment to service has taken on a new meaning.
“This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service,” Sullenberger said. “And the answer is to speak up. It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward.”
His wife of 37 years, Lorrie Sullenberger, said the diagnosis has not changed the qualities that made her husband a trusted leader in the cockpit.
“Just as he was the same steady person before and after Flight 1549, he is the same steady person now, before and after this diagnosis,” she said. “That strength and steadiness is guiding us as a family.”
She added that while the future remains uncertain, the family intends to continue living fully, embracing hope and finding joy in everyday life.
Captain Jeff Skiles, Sullenberger’s first officer during Flight 1549, also expressed confidence that his longtime colleague will continue facing adversity with dignity and determination.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects an estimated more than seven million Americans age 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. While there is currently no cure, earlier diagnosis and newer treatments are helping some patients slow the progression of symptoms.
Sullenberger acknowledged that the disease may eventually affect his memories, but insisted it will not define his future.
“This diagnosis will not prevent me from looking forward to and appreciating our future,” he said.
Recalling the unity displayed after Flight 1549, he said he believes that same spirit is needed today.
“Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I would say that ‘courage can be contagious,'” Sullenberger said. “Now we need that courage to battle this disease. I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together.”
His decision to publicly share his diagnosis has been widely praised by Alzheimer’s advocates, who say his openness could help reduce stigma surrounding the disease and encourage earlier conversations about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
For many Americans, Capt. Sully will always be remembered as the pilot who safely guided an airliner to an impossible landing. Today, he is hoping his willingness to share a deeply personal diagnosis will help guide others through another difficult journey—with the same calm resolve, honesty and hope that made him a national hero.
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(Sources: USA Today, Fox News, The New York Times)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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