C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, 75, announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. In a statement on his website, Sullenberger said he is receiving treatment and is in the beginning of a long journey. He noted that for now, he may forget a story he has recently told, struggle to recall a name, or not sleep as well. Sullenberger expressed hope that by sharing his diagnosis, other families living in the shadows with the disease will feel they too can step forward.
Sullenberger became an international celebrity after safely landing a US Airways Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River in 2009 after hitting a flock of geese. The landing saved all 155 people on board in what experts called a masterful job under life-or-death pressure. His experience was later portrayed by actor Tom Hanks in the 2016 film "Sully," directed by Clint Eastwood.
A vocal advocate for aviation safety, Sullenberger testified before the U.S. Congress in 2019 in support of requiring pilots to undergo new simulator training before Boeing 737 MAX flights resumed following two fatal crashes. He stated that the current system of aircraft design and certification had failed. In 2020, Congress approved sweeping legislation to reform how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies new airplanes.
In 2022, Sullenberger served as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization based in Montreal. During his tenure, he raised concerns that attempts by regional airlines to reduce pilot requirements would weaken safety. He stated that his commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all who fly predated the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2024 that an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older had Alzheimer's, noting it as the sixth-leading cause of death among that age group.