Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, the pilot famed for the 'Miracle on the Hudson' emergency landing in 2009, has announced he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The 75-year-old former US Airways captain made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday, describing the diagnosis as the beginning of a long journey.
Sullenberger's statement on 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 the diagnosis has challenged his sense of service, prompting him to speak out in hopes that other families affected by the disease will feel empowered to come forward.
About 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with clinical Alzheimer's dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Nearly three-quarters of them are 75 or older. There is no cure for the progressive neurological disorder, though treatments can slow its progression and manage symptoms.
The Miracle on the Hudson
Sullenberger was at the controls of US Airways Flight 1549 on 15 January 2009, en route from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after takeoff, the Airbus A320 struck a flock of geese, causing both engines to lose thrust. Determining that the plane could not return to LaGuardia or reach an alternative airport, Sullenberger executed an emergency landing on the Hudson River. All 150 passengers and 5 crew members survived.
The event, widely hailed as the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' made Sullenberger a global hero. His story was later adapted into the 2016 film 'Sully,' starring Tom Hanks. In recent years, Sullenberger has worked as a corporate speaker and aviation safety expert.
Call for courage against 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,' Sullenberger said in his statement. '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.'
