Sully Sullenberger reveals early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the retired airline pilot celebrated for safely landing a disabled passenger jet on the Hudson River in 2009, announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The 75-year-old revealed the diagnosis, which he received in August 2025, in a public statement, saying he is determined to face the future with courage and to use his voice to support other families affected by the condition.

Sullenberger explained that he began to suspect something was wrong when he started forgetting things, despite having long possessed a sharp memory. He described his current symptoms as typical of the early stages of the disease. 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, he said. He and his wife, Lorrie, decided to share the news to raise awareness and offer hope.

The pilot became a national hero on January 15, 2009, after US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport, causing a complete loss of thrust in both engines. With no safe runway within...