'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, famous for the 2009 'Miracle on the Hudson' emergency landing, has announced an early-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis. He intends to use his platform to advocate for awareness and courage in facing the disease.
Why it matters
The public disclosure by a high-profile figure brings significant attention to Alzheimer's disease and the challenges of aging.
Image source, Getty Images By Sareen Habeshian Published 14 July 2026, 22:20 BST Updated 9 minutes ago The heroic pilot who safely ditched a stricken airliner in a New York City river in 2009 has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger III, 75, shared the update on his personal website, writing that he was recently diagnosed and it is at an early stage.
"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 wrote.
US Airways Flight 1549 came down in the Hudson River on 15 January 2009, after both its engines were disabled in a collision with a flock of geese shortly after take-off. All 155 people on board survived.
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