Opinion: The continued courage of Captain Sully
Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, famous for the 'Miracle on the Hudson' landing, has announced he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. He intends to use his platform to raise awareness and support for families navigating the challenges of the condition.
Why it matters
The public disclosure by a widely respected cultural figure highlights the prevalence of Alzheimer's and the importance of destigmatizing the diagnosis.
The word "courageous" has been fixed to Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's name ever since Jan. 15, 2009. That's when the US Airways captain steered Flight 1549 to a safe water landing on the frigid Hudson River, with both engines shut down from a bird strike — shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport.
All 155 people on board survived to tell the story for the rest of their lives.
It was called the "Miracle on the Hudson." But of course, it was the skilled and poised work of Captain Sully, as he became known; his co-pilot, Jeffrey Skiles; and the flight attendants, Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh, who guided passengers onto the wings of the aircraft, for rescue by dauntless emergency crews.
"Courage is contagious," Captain Sullenberger often said in the welter of interviews that followed through the years.
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