Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot whose calm leadership helped save all 155 people aboard US Airways Flight 1549, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The 75-year-old aviation legend shared the deeply personal news on Tuesday, July 14, explaining that he received the diagnosis in August 2025 after noticing changes to his usually exceptional memory.
“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,” Sullenberger said. “But I am in the beginning of this long journey.”
Sullenberger said that he and his family had debated whether to disclose the diagnosis publicly. However, after a lifetime devoted to service, he decided that speaking openly could help other people and families living with the disease feel less alone.
“This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service,” he explained. “And the answer is to speak up.”
Sullenberger’s wife, Lorrie, said her husband remains the same steady and focused person he was before receiving the diagnosis. The couple, supported by their two daughters and granddaughter, are continuing to approach everyday life with hope and joy despite the uncertainty ahead.
The Miracle on the Hudson
Sullenberger became one of the world’s most recognisable pilots following the events of January 15, 2009.
US Airways Flight 1549 had departed New York LaGuardia Airport for Charlotte, North Carolina, when the Airbus A320 struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after take-off. The impact caused an almost complete loss of thrust in both engines.
Realising that the aircraft could not safely reach an airport, Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles successfully ditched the A320 on the Hudson River.
All 150 passengers and five crew members survived.
The successful outcome was not solely the work of those on the flight deck. Flight attendants Donna Dent, Doreen Welsh and Sheila Dail immediately began evacuating passengers as freezing water entered the aircraft, directing them towards the forward and overwing exits.
Passengers climbed onto the wings and emergency slides before being rescued by nearby ferries and emergency vessels. The composure, training and teamwork of the entire crew transformed what could have been a catastrophe into the event that became known worldwide as the “Miracle on the Hudson”.
Sullenberger later walked through the rapidly flooding cabin to ensure that nobody had been left behind.
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A Lifetime of Service
Before joining the airlines, Sullenberger served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He subsequently built a long career as a commercial pilot, accident investigator, and aviation safety advocate.
Following Flight 1549, he used his international profile to campaign for improved pilot training, adequate crew rest, the continued presence of two pilots on commercial flight decks and the responsible introduction of new technology.
He also served as the United States Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and will be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Washington, DC, in September 2026.
His story was portrayed in the 2016 film Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks.
First Officer Skiles, who learned about his friend’s diagnosis several months before it was announced publicly, said Sullenberger remained “larger than life” and that most people speaking with him would not realise anything was wrong.
Reflecting on the teamwork that saved Flight 1549, Sullenberger said he had often described courage as contagious.
“On that day, it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that aeroplane successfully,” he 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.”
Our thoughts are with Captain Sullenberger and his loved ones at this time.
© Confessions of a Trolley Dolly