Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, the pilot who became a national hero after successfully ditching US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The 75-year-old shared the news on his personal website, stating that the diagnosis is in its early stages. "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.
Sullenberger's quick thinking and calm demeanor were widely credited with averting disaster on January 15, 2009, when the Airbus A320-214 he was piloting lost power to both engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport due to a bird strike. All 155 people aboard the flight survived the incident, which became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."
In his statement, Sullenberger, a former US Air Force fighter pilot from California, said the diagnosis has "challenged what it means to be of service" and that he has found "the answer is to speak up" about the disease. He drew a parallel to his experience with Flight 1549, recalling his earlier message that "courage can be contagious." He added, "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."
Sullenberger had accumulated 40 years of flying experience before the Hudson River incident. He retired from piloting in 2010 and has since remained an advocate for aviation safety. His celebrated emergency landing was the subject of the 2016 film "Sully," starring Tom Hanks.