Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Sullenberger, 75, revealed the diagnosis in an exclusive interview, noting he first noticed issues with his photographic memory. He was officially diagnosed in August of the previous year.
“It is early stage,” Sullenberger told People magazine. “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.”
The former pilot, who retired in 2010, said he hopes using his public profile will help destigmatize the disease and support other families. His physician, Dr. Gil Rabinovici of UCSF Medical Center, highlighted the global prevalence of Alzheimer’s.
“This disease... spares no age group and impacts millions of people around the world,” Sullenberger said in a statement.
His wife, Laurie, described the family as remaining hopeful and steady, just as they were after the famed Hudson River landing. Sullenberger was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the 2016 film Sully.
Sullenberger joins approximately 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s, according to the National Library of Medicine.