Pilot at the centre of Miracle on the Hudson diagnosed with alzheimers
Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, the veteran airline pilot whose extraordinary actions saved 155 lives on the Hudson river, in one of aviation’s greatest survival stories, has revealed he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The 75-year-old shared the news in a heartfelt statement, saying he is in the early stages of the illness but has already noticed changes in his memory and day-to-day life.
Sullenberger explained that he sometimes struggles to recall names, finds himself repeating stories he has recently told, and has experienced disrupted sleep. Despite the diagnosis, he said he remains determined to face the future with optimism and courage.
NEW YORK – JANUARY 15: A US Airways plane comes to rest in the water near Battery Park after crashing into the Hudson River in the afternoon on January 15, 2009, near the Battery Park neighbourhood in New York City. The Airbus A320 flight 1549 crashed shortly after take-off from LaGuardia Airport, heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Julian Ungano/Getty Images)
The former US Airways captain became a household name worldwide on January 15, 2009, after Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese just minutes after taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
With both engines severely damaged and no safe runway within reach, Sullenberger made the split-second decision to ditch the Airbus A320 on the freezing waters of the Hudson River.
His remarkable flying skills ensured that every one of the 150 passengers and five crew members survived what could have been one of the deadliest air disasters in American history.
NEW YORK – JANUARY 15: Rescue boats float next to a US Airways plane floating in the water after crashing into the Hudson River in the afternoon on January 15, 2009, in New York City. The Airbus A320 flight 1549 crashed shortly after take-off from LaGuardia Airport, heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images)
The dramatic rescue, in which ferries and emergency crews rushed to the floating aircraft, became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
Sullenberger’s story reached an even wider audience in 2016 when Hollywood director Clint Eastwood brought it to the big screen in the hit film Sully. Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks starred as the calm and experienced pilot, while Aaron Eckhart played First Officer Jeff Skiles.
The film focused not only on the emergency landing itself but also on the intense scrutiny that followed. It portrayed investigators questioning whether Sullenberger should have attempted to return to LaGuardia or diverted to another airport rather than landing on the river.
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 01: US Airways pilot Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (L) and co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles speak in the cockpit of a US Airways flight moments before take-off from LaGuardia Airport on Sullenberger’s first official day back in the cockpit on October 1, 2009 in New York, New York. Sullenberger will be back to piloting regular flights after the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River following a bird strike that caused both engines to fail last January. Sullenberger and Skiles will follow the same route they took on the day of the accident to Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)
In reality, the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation concluded that the ditching was the correct decision. The inquiry found that computer simulations suggesting the aircraft could have reached a runway failed to account for the crucial seconds pilots need to assess the emergency and react under real-life conditions.
Once that human response time was factored in, investigators agreed that landing on the Hudson had been the safest option.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: (L-R) Tom Hanks, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Edith Bowman and Aaron Eckhart attend the special screening of “Sully” at BFI IMAX on November 17, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Although some of the investigators later said the film overstated the level of conflict between them and Sullenberger, the movie introduced his remarkable story to millions more viewers and cemented his place as one of the most respected figures in aviation history.
Since retiring from commercial flying, Sullenberger has remained a prominent advocate for aviation safety and has frequently spoken about leadership, crisis management, and the lessons learned from one of the most famous emergency landings ever.
