C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, the celebrated airline captain who pulled off what many called the “Miracle on the Hudson” by safely landing a crippled Airbus A320 on New York’s Hudson River in 2009, has publicly revealed that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Sullenberger, who is 75 years old, shared the news through a statement posted on his personal website, noting that he is already receiving treatment for the condition. Describing what the diagnosis currently means for his daily life, he wrote: “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.”
The veteran pilot became a household name after he successfully guided a distressed US Airways aircraft onto the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, rescuing all 155 people on board. Aviation experts praised his performance under extreme pressure as nothing short of extraordinary. His story later reached global audiences through the 2016 film “Sully,” in which actor Tom Hanks portrayed him under the direction of Clint Eastwood.
Since that historic landing, Sullenberger has been a tireless voice for aviation safety. In 2022, he briefly took on the role of U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is headquartered in Montreal. Before concluding that assignment, he raised alarms about efforts by regional airlines to roll back pilot qualification requirements, warning that such moves would put air travel safety at risk.
At the time, he stated: “I am deeply committed to aviation safety and security – to the safety and wellbeing of all who fly,” adding that this dedication existed long before the famous Hudson River flight and would remain his focus as he returned to private life.
In 2019, Sullenberger appeared before the U.S. Congress to advocate for mandatory new simulator training for pilots before Boeing 737 MAX aircraft could return to service, following two deadly crashes involving that model. During that testimony, he delivered a pointed assessment of the aviation system, saying: “Our current system of aircraft design and certification has failed us.” Congress responded in 2020 by passing sweeping reforms to how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies new aircraft.
Alzheimer’s disease is a significant public health concern across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s as of 2024, making it the sixth-leading cause of death among that age group.
