Sully Sullenberger Shares Alzheimer's Warning Signs
The 'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot discusses subtle changes he and his wife noticed years before his diagnosis.
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, renowned for his safe landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, is now raising awareness about the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Sullenberger, who was diagnosed in August 2025, spoke with his wife, Lorrie, on "Good Morning America" to share their experiences with the condition.
The couple described subtle shifts in routine and behavior that began surfacing several years prior to his official medical evaluation. Lorrie Sullenberger noted that these changes were often gradual and difficult to pinpoint, advising others to look for what is unusual for a particular person rather than waiting for overt late-stage symptoms.
"A lot of what I think people see in the news are late-stage Alzheimer's symptoms. And so in the very beginning, they are so subtle. And my advice to someone would be, it's what's unusual for your person," she said. Public understanding often focuses on significant memory loss or disorientation, but medical experts indicate that early cognitive decline can be much harder to detect.
Sullenberger shared that one of the initial indicators for him was increased difficulty remembering names, even of people he knew well. He also mentioned forgetting things he normally wouldn't and repeating himself without realizing it.
Early indicators of Alzheimer's can include misplacing items, struggling to find the right words during conversations, subtle changes in mood or executive function, or taking longer to complete familiar tasks. These subtle shifts can easily be mistaken for normal signs of aging, making loved ones often the first to notice anomalies.
Sullenberger, reflecting on his past experiences, stated, "I’ve gone through harder things than this before."
He emphasized the critical importance of early diagnosis, stating, "If you have doubts, get tested. Because the sooner you act, the more options there are, the better the outcome is likely to be." Early detection allows individuals and families to explore treatment options, participate in clinical trials, make lifestyle modifications, and plan for the future. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, early intervention can significantly impact a patient's journey.
Sullenberger's 2009 emergency landing on the Hudson River, after the aircraft experienced a dual engine failure due to a bird strike shortly after takeoff, resulted in all 155 passengers and crew surviving and earned him widespread recognition as the "Miracle on the Hudson."