Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III — the pilot who became a household name after safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in January 2009 — announced on July 14, 2026, that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Sullenberger, 75, shared the news in a statement posted to his personal website, framing the disclosure as an act of advocacy: he said he hopes that by sharing his story, other families facing the disease won’t feel they have to hide from it. “Courage can be contagious,” he wrote, echoing the phrase he has long used to describe the successful outcome of Flight 1549 — and applying it now to what he called “this long journey.”
The aviation community, which has regarded Sullenberger as one of its most respected voices for more than a decade and a half, responded with an outpouring of support. Here is what he shared, in his own words, and the context around it.
What Sullenberger Shared
In his statement, Sullenberger was direct and characteristically measured about the diagnosis and its current stage.
“I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is an early stage,” 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 at the beginning of this long journey.”
He credited his physician with helping him understand how widespread the disease is. “My doctor, Dr. Gil Rabinovici with UCSF Medical Center, has opened my eyes to the prevalence of Alzheimer’s,” Sullenberger said. “This disease, he has told me, spares no age group and impacts millions of people around the world. It is the unwanted visitor at the door.”
He also made clear that the diagnosis has not dimmed his outlook. “Though it may impact my memory of the past, this diagnosis will not prevent me from looking forward to and appreciating our future,” he wrote. “I will navigate this chapter with my wonderful family by my side.”
Sullenberger spoke warmly of that family, describing how he and his wife Lorrie “often said we won the baby lottery with our two daughters,” and how their granddaughter “gives a whole new meaning to life.”
Turning a Diagnosis Into Advocacy
What distinguishes Sullenberger’s announcement is its purpose. He didn’t simply disclose a private medical matter — he framed it as a call for openness, drawing a direct line from the courage of Flight 1549 to the courage families need to face 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 wrote. “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.”
The 75-year-old said he hopes that by sharing his story, other families dealing with the disease don’t have to hide from it, but can instead take a step forward.
That framing is consistent with a career defined by service. As Sullenberger noted in his statement, he has spent his life in public service — in the U.S. Air Force, as a commercial airline pilot, as an accident investigator, and as the U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). For decades, he has advocated for the safety of the traveling public.
A Career of Aviation Safety Advocacy
For the aviation community, Sullenberger has never been solely “the Miracle on the Hudson pilot.” He has been one of the industry’s most persistent and credible safety advocates.
After the Flight 1549 landing on January 15, 2009 — in which he and First Officer Jeff Skiles safely brought an Airbus A320 down on the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled both engines, with all 155 people aboard surviving — Sullenberger used his platform deliberately. As he described it, he used “the greater voice afforded to me by The Miracle on the Hudson to further aviation safety by speaking out on the many issues facing the industry.”
His advocacy record includes work on increased pilot training, improved pilot rest rules, preservation of the two-pilot rule for airline flight decks, and cockpit technology issues. He testified before Congress on multiple occasions, including before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and remained a sought-after voice on aviation safety long after his 2010 retirement from commercial flying.
Sullenberger’s biography reflects the breadth of that service. Born January 23, 1951, in Denison, Texas, he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, served as a fighter pilot from 1973 to 1980, and later earned master’s degrees from Purdue University and the University of Northern Colorado. He flew for US Airways and its predecessor for nearly three decades. In 2022, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to ICAO, the United Nations agency that sets international aviation standards.
His story reached a global audience through the 2016 Clint Eastwood film Sully, in which Tom Hanks portrayed him — cementing his place in popular culture well beyond aviation circles.
Understanding Early-Stage Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes irreversible damage to nerve cells in the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the most common form of dementia and leads to memory loss and declines in other cognitive abilities over time.
The symptoms Sullenberger described — occasional difficulty recalling a name, forgetting a recently told story, changes in sleep — are consistent with the early stage of the disease. In the early stage, many people continue to function independently and maintain their relationships, activities, and much of their daily life, though they may notice lapses in memory or concentration.
Sullenberger’s decision to name his physician and to describe the diagnosis openly aligns with a broader movement in Alzheimer’s care that emphasizes early recognition, reduced stigma, and family planning. Health experts have noted that his announcement highlights the importance of recognizing early symptoms — the kind of awareness that can lead to earlier diagnosis, better planning, and access to support and emerging treatments.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number projected to grow as the population ages. Advocates have long emphasized that public figures who speak openly about their diagnoses help reduce the stigma that can keep families from seeking help.
The Aviation Community Responds
Sullenberger’s standing in aviation is difficult to overstate. For pilots, he represents the profession at its best — the embodiment of training, judgment, and calm competence under extraordinary pressure. The Flight 1549 landing has been studied in flight training curricula, cited in crew resource management courses, and dramatized in film, and it remains one of the most-referenced examples of successful aeronautical decision-making in modern aviation.
The Sullenberger Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina — home to the actual Flight 1549 aircraft — bears his name and stands as a testament to his enduring influence on the field.
His willingness to share this diagnosis publicly, and to do so in service of others, has resonated deeply within the community that has admired him for so long. It is, in a sense, entirely in character: a man who spent his career advocating for the safety and wellbeing of others, now using his voice to help families facing a difficult diagnosis feel less alone.
The Bottom Line
Captain Sully Sullenberger’s announcement of an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis is, above all, a deeply personal disclosure from a man who has given much of his life to public service. In sharing it, he has once again chosen to turn his own circumstances toward the benefit of others — hoping that his openness helps other families face the disease without fear or isolation.
For the aviation community and the broader public who came to know him through the Miracle on the Hudson, the news is met with gratitude for his decades of advocacy and with warm support for the road ahead. As Sullenberger himself put it, courage can be contagious. He and his family will navigate this chapter as he has navigated every challenge — with dignity, and alongside a community that stands with him.
Those interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease, recognizing early symptoms, or finding support resources can visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or call its 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sully Sullenberger announce about his health? On July 14, 2026, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, 75, announced in a statement on his personal website that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. He described the current impact as occasionally struggling to recall a name, forgetting a recently told story, and sleeping less well, and said he is “at the beginning of this long journey.” He shared the news in the hope of helping other families facing the disease feel less alone.
Who is Sully Sullenberger? Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III is a retired airline pilot, U.S. Air Force veteran, aviation safety expert, and former U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He became internationally known on January 15, 2009, when he safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled both engines, with all 155 people aboard surviving — an event known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” His story was dramatized in the 2016 film Sully, with Tom Hanks in the title role.
What stage is Sullenberger’s Alzheimer’s disease? Sullenberger stated that his Alzheimer’s disease is in an early stage. In the early stage of the disease, many people continue to function largely independently while noticing lapses such as difficulty recalling names, forgetting recent conversations, or changes in sleep. Sullenberger emphasized that while the diagnosis may affect his memory, it will not prevent him from looking forward to and appreciating the future with his family.
What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes irreversible damage to nerve cells in the brain, according to the CDC. It is the most common form of dementia and leads to memory loss and declines in other cognitive abilities over time. More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, a number expected to grow as the population ages.
Where can families find Alzheimer’s support resources? The Alzheimer’s Association offers information, early-symptom guidance, and support resources at alz.org and operates a free 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900. The association provides support for people living with the disease and their caregivers, along with information about diagnosis, care planning, and ongoing research.
Sources:
- Sully Sullenberger — A Statement from Sully Sullenberger (July 14, 2026)
- CNN — Miracle on the Hudson Pilot Sully Sullenberger Announces Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis (July 14, 2026)
- ABC News — Capt. Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis (July 14, 2026)
- CBS News — Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, Who Landed Passenger Jet on the Hudson, Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s
- Alzheimer’s Association — Facts and Figures
- CDC — About Alzheimer’s Disease
