Captain "Sully" Sullenberger Announces Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
The former US Airways pilot who landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson River disclosed an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis, saying he will speak publicly about the condition.
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, 75, revealed on his personal website that doctors have diagnosed him with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. He said the diagnosis has prompted him to speak openly about the condition, noting that it sometimes affects his memory and sleep but that he is at the beginning of a long journey. Sullenberger, the former US Air Force fighter pilot who safely ditched US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, said the experience taught him that "courage can be contagious" and that the same courage is now needed to confront his illness. He expressed a commitment to join a broader community in facing the disease together.
"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," he added.