Miracle on the Hudson pilot Sully reveals Alzheimer's
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, the aircraft pilot who saved all 155 people during the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson" landing, announced on July 14, 2026 that he has early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The 75-year-old received his formal diagnosis in August 2025 after his famed photographic memory began to fail. He is speaking publicly to encourage other families living in the shadows of the progressive brain disorder.
Key Takeaways
- Sullenberger disclosed an early-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis he received in August 2025.
- Memory lapses in his photographic recall prompted evaluation with Dr. Gil Rabinovici at UCSF Medical Center.
- All 155 aboard US Airways Flight 1549 survived his January 15, 2009 Hudson River emergency landing.
- He hopes sharing his story will help families affected by Alzheimer's step forward.
- His wife Lorrie says the family is facing the diagnosis with hope and daily joy.
Who Is the Miracle on the Hudson Aircraft Pilot?
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III became a national celebrity when he managed to land US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. A bird strike destroyed the plane's engines after takeoff, yet every passenger and crew member survived what became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."
People described him as one of the nation's most famous aviators since Charles Lindbergh. For decades, Sullenberger advocated for the safety of the traveling public, using the greater voice afforded by the Hudson landing to push for increased pilot training, more pilot rest, the two-pilot rule, and improved aviation technology.
What Symptoms Led to Sully's Alzheimer's Diagnosis?
Sullenberger told People that a little over a year ago he began noticing something seemed off with his uncanny ability to recall details. Blessed with a photographic memory, he started periodically forgetting things — a shift that eventually led to formal testing.
"It is early stage," he wrote in a public statement. "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." His physician, Dr. Gil Rabinovici at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, helped him understand how widely Alzheimer's affects people around the world.
Why Is Sullenberger Going Public About Alzheimer's?
Sullenberger is among approximately 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer's, according to National Library of Medicine figures cited by People. He and his wife Lorrie, his partner of 37 years, debated whether to disclose the diagnosis before deciding his public platform could serve a greater purpose.
"It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward," he said. He drew a parallel to Flight 1549, noting that "courage can be contagious" — a lesson he now applies alongside his family, including his two daughters and granddaughter. Lorrie said they are living each day with hope and joy despite not knowing what the future holds.
Though the diagnosis may affect his memory of the past, Sullenberger said it will not stop him from appreciating the future. For more on how science and technology shape public health, explore our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage. Additional reporting is available from The New York Times.