Kory Grow
Contact Kory Grow on X View all posts by Kory Grow July 14, 2026
Capt. Sully, 2024. Peter Zay/Anadolu/Getty Images Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, the pilot who performed the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009, revealed on Tuesday that doctors have diagnosed him with Alzheimer‘s disease. He learned of the diagnosis in August 2025, according to People.
“It is early stage,” he told the magazine. “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.”
The first signs that something was wrong, Sully said, was when he noticed he’d started forgetting things, since he once had a photographic memory. Sullenberger’s wife, Lorrie, told People that Sully remained focused. “That strength and steadiness is guiding us as a family,” she said. “We’re supporting him on this journey that we now walk with so many other families. Though the future is uncertain, we continue to live our lives, have hope, and find joy in the everyday.”
Like actor Danny Glover, who spoke out about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis earlier this month, when Sully learned of his diagnosis, he decided the best first step was to release a statement to help educate people about the disease, which affects millions. Alzheimer’s affects people’s cognition and memory.
