"Miracle on the Hudson" Pilot Sullenberger Diagnosed with Alzheimer's

Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot celebrated for landing a commercial jetliner on New York's Hudson River in 2009, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The 75-year-old American made the diagnosis public on his website and in an interview with People magazine.

Sullenberger revealed that the illness was diagnosed last August. He stated his intention to remain helpful and speak openly about his experience during this new phase of his life. His dramatic emergency landing on the Hudson River in January 2009, known as the "Miracle on the Hudson," brought him worldwide fame. He successfully landed an Airbus A320 in the river after birds struck the engines, ensuring all 150 passengers and five crew members survived.

The landing on the icy Hudson River, with the New York skyline as a backdrop, was a remarkable feat of aviation. The Airbus did not flip or break apart upon impact. Sullenberger, a former military pilot with 40 years of flying experience, was the last to leave the sinking aircraft, having thoroughly searched it to ensure no one was left behind. He has been hailed as a hero in the United States ever since.

Sullenberger's life story was adapted into the 2016 film "Sully," starring Tom Hanks, based on his autobiography "Making a Difference." He retired in 2010 but continued to contribute as an expert in flight safety and accident investigations. Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, involves the death of nerve cells in the brain, leading to memory loss, confusion, speech difficulties, and disorientation.

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In this new phase of his life, he wants to continue to be helpful and speak openly about this experience.