Former Hudson River pilot Sully Sullenberger diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's

Retired airline captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who guided an Airbus A320 to a safe water landing on the Hudson River in 2009, disclosed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. In a statement posted on his website, the 75-year-old said he is receiving treatment and noted that the condition currently affects his memory and sleep, but described it as the beginning of a long journey.

Sullenberger, a former U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, has been an outspoken advocate for aviation safety. He previously warned that proposals to lower pilot qualification standards could compromise safety, and testified before Congress in 2019 in favor of mandatory simulator training for Boeing 737 MAX pilots. "I am deeply committed to aviation safety and security – to the safety and wellbeing of all who fly," he said at the time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s, making it a leading cause of death in that age group.