Sullenberger Reveals Early-Stage Alzheimer's Diagnosis at Age 75

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, 75, announced that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease in a statement posted to his website. @ABC reported the disclosure on July 14, 2026. "I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

It is early stage," Sullenberger wrote. " Sullenberger, an Air Force veteran, commercial pilot and accident investigator, gained national attention on January 15, 2009, when he and co-pilot Jeff Skiles guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in the Hudson River after the plane struck a flock of Canada geese. All 150 passengers and five crew members survived the incident.

In the statement, Sullenberger said the diagnosis has prompted him to reconsider how he can continue to serve the public. "So this new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service," he wrote. " He added that he hopes the disclosure will encourage other families facing the disease.

"It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward," Sullenberger stated. " "I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together," he concluded.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes irreversible damage to nerve cells, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC states that the condition affects approximately 7 million people in the U.S. and ranks as the seventh-leading cause of death among adults.