Hero Pilot Captain Sully Sullenberger Reveals Heartbreaking Health Diagnosis
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the celebrated pilot known as the “Hero of the Hudson” for safely landing a US Airways jet in the Hudson River and saving all 155 people on board in 2009, has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
“I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is early stage,” Sullenberger, 75, said in a statement per the New York Post.
“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,” he added.
The retired US Airways captain was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease by Dr. Gil Rabinovici at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.
By sharing his diagnosis publicly, Sullenberger and his family hope to encourage others facing Alzheimer’s to seek support and know they are not alone.
“I have spent my life in service, in the US Air Force, as a commercial airline pilot, an accident investigator, as the US Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization,” Sullenberger said.
“I have advocated for the safety of the traveling public for decades. And of course after the landing of Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, I used the greater voice afforded to me by The Miracle on the Hudson to further aviation safety by speaking out on the many issues facing the industry.”
“I was proud to work with many colleagues, fighting for increased pilot training, more pilot rest, in favor of the two-pilot rule, on increased technology issues, and more.”
“So this new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service. And the answer is to speak up,” he added.
“It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward.”
“Though it may impact my memory of the past, this diagnosis will not prevent me from looking forward to and appreciating our future,” he said. “I will navigate this chapter with my wonderful family by my side.”
Sullenberger began flying at a young age and earned a degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy before serving as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the military, he joined Pacific Southwest Airlines, which later became part of US Airways. During his airline career, he accumulated more than 19,000 flight hours and became widely respected for his expertise in aviation safety and accident investigation.
Following the Hudson River landing, Sullenberger was praised around the world for his calm decision-making and professionalism. His story inspired the 2016 film Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood, with Tom Hanks portraying the veteran pilot.
After retiring from commercial aviation in 2010, Sullenberger became an author, public speaker, and advocate for aviation safety. He has testified before Congress on transportation issues and served as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization from 2022 to 2025.
