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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Health & Science

‘Miracle on the Hudson’ pilot Sully Sullenberger diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot famous for the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” landing, announced he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Sullenberger, 75, stated the diagnosis means he may forget names or stories and sleep poorly, but he is beginning a new phase of life.
  • He hopes his public announcement will encourage other families facing the disease to step forward, emphasizing the need for courage.

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot celebrated for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on New York’s Hudson River in 2009, has revealed his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. The 75-year-old shared the news in a statement Tuesday, describing the early stages of the illness.

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.

— Chesley “Sully” SullenbergerIn a statement announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis.

“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,” Sullenberger said. He added that this new phase challenges his understanding of service, and he feels compelled to speak out. His hope is that by sharing his diagnosis, other families living with Alzheimer’s will feel empowered to come forward.

It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward.

— Chesley “Sully” SullenbergerIn a statement announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Sullenberger, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, became a national hero after the 2009 incident. Shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, the Airbus A320 struck a flock of birds, causing a total loss of thrust in both engines. Sullenberger skillfully navigated the crippled aircraft to an emergency landing in the Hudson River, resulting in no fatalities among the 155 people on board.

Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I would say that ‘courage can be contagious,’ and on that day it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that airplane successfully.

— Chesley “Sully” SullenbergerReflecting on the 2009 Hudson River landing.

The 2016 film "Sully," starring Tom Hanks, chronicled the event. In recent years, Sullenberger has worked as a corporate speaker and aviation safety expert. He drew a parallel between the courage shown on Flight 1549 and the courage needed to confront Alzheimer’s. “Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I would say that ‘courage can be contagious,’ and on that day it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that airplane successfully,” he stated. “Now we need that courage to battle this disease. I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together.”

Now we need that courage to battle this disease. I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together.

— Chesley “Sully” SullenbergerIn a statement announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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