Captain Sully Reveals Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger announced Tuesday he has early-stage Alzheimer's disease. He is the pilot known for the 2009 'Miracle on the Hudson' landing.
Sullenberger made the announcement himself in a public statement. He is 75 years old.
He got his official diagnosis in August 2025 reports say. Doctor Gil Rabinovici at UCSF Medical Center is treating him according to reports.
His wife Lorrie also spoke publicly about supporting him. A Fox News medical analyst said his past PTSD from the Hudson landing may have raised his Alzheimer's risk.
Sullenberger became widely known after landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River. Nobody died in that 2009 landing.
Klear Note — Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes memory loss and confusion over time. Sully became famous in 2009 when he safely landed a damaged plane on New York's Hudson River with no deaths.
Key Terms 4
- Alzheimer's disease A brain illness that slowly harms memory and thinking.
- Miracle on the Hudson The 2009 safe emergency landing of a plane on a river.
- PTSD A mental health condition caused by a scary or stressful event.
- UCSF Medical Center A hospital and research center in San Francisco, California.