Captain Sully Faces Health Challenge

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, famous for his remarkable emergency landing in the Hudson River, is now confronting a personal health crisis—Alzheimer’s disease.

At 75, he revealed, “I recently found out that I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s still in the early stages.” He continues by explaining the early effects: forgetfulness around names, brief lapses in memory regarding recent conversations, and difficulties with sleep. “I’m at the beginning of this long journey,” he added.

Sullenberger hopes that sharing his diagnosis will offer support to others facing similar struggles. “This new phase in my life has asked me what it means to serve, and the answer is to speak out,” he mentioned, expressing his hope that his story might encourage those affected by the disease to move forward.

His heroic landing in January 2009, often referred to as the “Miracle on the Hudson,” was dramatized in the 2016 film “Sully,” directed by Clint Eastwood and featuring Tom Hanks. Over the years, Sullenberger has frequently talked about the collective effort that saved the passengers that day.

He reflected on the teamwork involved, saying, “We think not only about what we’ve done, but also about what others have done. All the pieces had to come together. This group of strangers had to rise to the occasion and make sure all lives were saved.”

Interestingly, while passengers described him as calm during the crisis, he later admitted that internal focus amid stress had been crucial. “It was too stressful, but we were focused…despite how stressful it was, we were able to do our job,” he noted candidly.