America 250: Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger
Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger is a former U.S. Air Power officer and industrial airline pilot. A graduate of the U.S. Air Power Academy, he served as a fighter pilot, flight chief, and coaching officer. After leaving energetic responsibility in 1980, he turned an airline pilot with Pacific Southwest Airways, later a part of US Airways. On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a fowl strike precipitated each engines to lose thrust. All 155 folks on board survived, in what turned referred to as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson.’ In 2021, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to function U.S. ambassador to the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group, a job he held till 2022.
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One of many nation’s most well-known aviators and nice heroes has introduced a heartbreaking prognosis.
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, the pilot who saved 155 folks after making an emergency touchdown in New York’s Hudson River in what turned referred to as “The Miracle on the Hudson,” shared in a public assertion that he was just lately recognized with Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s early stage,” he revealed. “For now, this implies a reputation could not come simply to me, I overlook a narrative I’ve just lately informed, or I don’t sleep as effectively, however I’m at first of this lengthy journey.”
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Sullenberger, 75, shared with Individuals journal that he’s had bother recalling particulars throughout the final yr, regardless of having a photographic reminiscence. He obtained his official prognosis in August 2025.
U.S. Airways Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III prepares to testify earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee’s Business and Administrative Regulation Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in December 2009. He was just lately recognized with Alzheimer’s illness. (Chip Somodevilla/Reuters)
The pilot became a celebrity when he carried out the emergency touchdown of US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15, 2009, after colliding with a flock of geese that resulted in engine failure. Everybody onboard survived.
Alzheimer’s, the most typical kind of dementia, impacts greater than seven million folks within the U.S. over the age of 65, in accordance with the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.
“It’s the undesirable customer on the door.”
“My physician, Dr. Gil Rabinovici with UCSF Medical Heart, has opened my eyes to the prevalence of Alzheimer’s,” Sullenberger mentioned in his assertion. “This illness, he has informed me, spares no age group and impacts tens of millions of individuals world wide. It’s the undesirable customer on the door.”
Sullenberger’s spouse, Lorrie, shared with People who the prognosis has not dimmed his robust demeanor.
Capt. Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger is pictured with spouse Lorrie Sullenberger in 2018. She mentioned the prognosis has not dimmed his robust demeanor. (Dave Kotinsky/FilmMagic)
“Simply as he was the identical regular particular person earlier than and after Flight 1549, he is identical regular particular person now, earlier than and after this prognosis,” she mentioned. “That power and steadiness is guiding us as a family.“
“We’re supporting him on this journey that we now stroll with so many different households. Although the longer term is unsure, we proceed to stay our lives, have hope and discover pleasure within the on a regular basis.”
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Flight 1549 first officer Capt. Jeff Skiles additionally commented on the information of his pal’s prognosis.
“Sully is bigger than life, even to me,” Skiles informed Individuals. “He’s any individual I’ve at all times regarded as much as, and I believe quite a lot of different folks do, too. Hopefully, it’s going to progress slowly and he’s going to have the ability to create the type of life going ahead that he could be pleased with.”
Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger attends the “Sully” New York premiere at Alice Tully Corridor, Lincoln Heart, in New York Metropolis on Sept. 6, 2016. (Jim Spellman/WireImage)
Fox Information senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel famous that Sullenberger had been recognized with post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) after the Miracle on the Hudson, which may have elevated his threat.
“Age 75 is comparatively late-onset,” he informed Fox Information Digital. “PTSD doubles the chance of growing Alzheimer’s due to altering mind chemistry and construction and sleep disruption.”
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Sullenberger mirrored on how he has been a staunch advocate for journey security, usually addressing roadblocks within the aviation trade, combating for elevated pilot coaching and care.
Now, Capt. Sully, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, plans to proceed serving the general public by specializing in elevating Alzheimer’s consciousness.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive illness, which means the signs progressively worsen over time. (iStock)
“This new part of my life has challenged what it means to be of service,” he mentioned. “And the reply is to talk up. It’s my hope that by sharing this, different households dwelling within the shadows with this illness will really feel they, too, can step ahead.”
“So many individuals informed us after Flight 1549, that the end result gave them hope,” he went on. “Lorrie, my unbelievable accomplice of 37 years, says we will all use a little bit of that hope proper now.”
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Although the soon-to-be Nationwide Aviation Corridor of Fame inductee’s reminiscence of the previous could also be impacted, Sullenberger mentioned his prognosis “is not going to forestall me from wanting ahead to and appreciating our future. I’ll navigate this chapter with my great household by my facet.”
Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III testifies earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee’s Business and Administrative Regulation Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He represented the U.S. Airline Pilots Affiliation and spoke about airline chapter and worker vulnerability. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)
“Through the years, when folks would ask concerning the profitable final result of Flight 1549, I’d say that ‘braveness might be contagious,’ and on that day it helped everybody band collectively to get everybody off that airplane efficiently,” he mentioned.
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“Now we want that braveness to battle this illness. I’m now half of a bigger group with a lot of you, and we will likely be brave collectively.”
What to learn about Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s illness is a sort of dementia affecting memory, thinking and behavior, as described by the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. It accounts for 60% to 80% of all dementia instances.
It’s a progressive illness, which means the signs progressively worsen over time. The reminiscence loss is normally delicate in early levels, however late-stage Alzheimer’s can embody lack of means to hold a dialog and reply to environmental elements.
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Whereas there is no such thing as a treatment for Alzheimer’s, there are therapies that may assist sluggish signs. Newer, more practical therapies are on the horizon, consultants say.
Sure way of life adjustments, together with psychological and bodily exercise, have been proven to assist forestall the illness.
Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist, mind imaging physician and founding father of Amen Clinics in California, beforehand spoke with Fox Information Digital about Alzheimer’s threat and administration.
“Alzheimer’s begins in your mind many years earlier than you will have any signs,” he mentioned. “So, a 59-year-old girl I recognized with Alzheimer’s disease doubtless had adverse adjustments in her mind in her 20s.”
“It is actually by no means too early to consider defending your mind and your thoughts.”
“I’ll navigate this chapter with my great household by my facet.”
Amen listed 11 main protecting elements that may assist ward off Alzheimer’s. These embody selling blood movement, decreasing irritation, and avoiding toxins like alcohol and medicines. Enhancing psychological well being, boosting immunity, getting ample sleep and conserving weight-reduction plan and weight in examine may also assist cut back threat.
The physician additionally recommends staying knowledgeable of hereditary ailments, sustaining a wholesome hormonal stability and conserving the mind energetic in retirement.
Sullenberger’s 2009 bestselling autobiography, “Highest Responsibility: My Seek for What Actually Issues,” co-written with Jeffrey Zaslow, was tailored right into a 2016 movie, “Sully,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks.