# ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Pilot Sully Sullenberger Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis at Age 75
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the retired airline pilot celebrated worldwide for safely guiding a disabled jetliner onto the Hudson River in 2009, has disclosed that he is battling Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and incurable brain condition that affects millions of Americans.
## Hero Pilot Shares Difficult News Publicly
Sullenberger, now 75, revealed the diagnosis this week in a personal statement, explaining that he wanted to speak openly about his condition to help others facing similar struggles. ,”I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is early stage,” Sullenberger wrote in part in a statement, adding, “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.”,
According to People magazine, which first received Sullenberger’s statement, ,he learned of the diagnosis in August 2025., The former airline captain, who once prided himself on a sharp memory, said the earliest warning signs emerged when he began noticing lapses that felt out of character. ,The first signs that something was wrong, Sully said, was when he noticed he’d started forgetting things, since he once had a photographic memory.,
Sullenberger credited his physician for helping him understand the scope of the disease. ,The retired commercial airline pilot said his doctor, Dr. Gil Rabinovici at the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, opened his eyes “to the prevalence of Alzheimer’s,” noting that the condition “spares no age group and impacts millions of people around the world. It is the unwanted visitor at the door.”,
Despite the sobering diagnosis, Sullenberger struck a tone of resilience and gratitude in his message. ,”Though it may impact my memory of the past, this diagnosis will not prevent me from looking forward to and appreciating our future,” he said. “I will navigate this chapter with my wonderful family by my side.”, He and his wife, Lorrie, are said to be facing the road ahead together while cherishing new milestones. ,Sullenberger added that he and his wife, Lorrie, are navigating his next steps together while they enjoy time with their first grandchild.,
Lorrie Sullenberger echoed her husband’s determination in comments to People, describing his composure as a source of strength for the entire family. ,She said Sully remained focused, noting, “That strength and steadiness is guiding us as a family. We’re supporting him on this journey that we now walk with so many other families.”,
## A Health Crisis Affecting Millions
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, gradually eroding memory and cognitive function over time. ,It is a brain condition that gradually causes problems with memory and other skills, is the most common cause of dementia, and currently has no cure., Health officials estimate the disease’s reach across the country is staggering. ,An estimated 7.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and there is currently no cure for the disease.,
Sullenberger joins a growing list of well-known figures who have recently gone public with their own Alzheimer’s battles. ,He is one of several public figures who have shared their Alzheimer’s diagnoses in recent months, including veteran New York City news anchor Bill Ritter and longtime actor Danny Glover.,
## From Cockpit Hero to Advocate
Sullenberger’s name became synonymous with composure under pressure following the events of January 15, 2009. ,He became a national hero when his quick thinking saved 155 people on board US Airways Flight 1549 after both engines of the plane started to fail due to a bird strike shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, and in less than four minutes, he and his crew executed an emergency water landing in the Hudson River after determining that reaching an airport wasn’t feasible., Every single person aboard survived what would come to be known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
The dramatic rescue later inspired a major Hollywood film. ,Clint Eastwood dramatized Sullenberger’s heroic exploits in the 2016 film “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks in the title role., Following his retirement from aviation, ,Sullenberger retired in March 2010 after three decades as a professional pilot, and in recent years established himself as a prominent advocate for aviation safety.,
Reflecting on the way passengers and crew came together during the emergency landing, Sullenberger drew a parallel to the fight he now faces against Alzheimer’s. ,”Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I would say that ‘courage can be contagious,’ and on that day it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that airplane successfully,” he wrote. “Now we need that courage to battle this disease.”,
Even as he confronts this new personal challenge, Sullenberger’s legacy of service continues to expand. ,In September, Sully will be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.,
## A Message of Hope for Other Families
Sullenberger’s decision to publicize his diagnosis reflects a broader mission to reduce stigma and encourage others navigating similar diagnoses to seek support. By speaking candidly about his own experience, he hopes to inspire others living with Alzheimer’s — and their families — to feel less alone in their struggle and more willing to share their own stories. As Sullenberger himself put it in his closing remarks, the courage that once united strangers on a sinking aircraft over the Hudson River may now offer comfort to families across the country confronting one of America’s most challenging health crises.