Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the retired pilot who successfully landed a commercial airliner filled with passengers in the Hudson River after the plane lost thrust in both engines, announced Tuesday he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Sullenberger, 75, said in a statement on his website that his diagnosis is in the early stage, and he hopes that by sharing the news, other families living with the disease will feel they too can step forward.
Though it may impact his memory of the past, Sullenberger said the diagnosis will not prevent him from looking forward to and appreciating the future. He will navigate this chapter with his wonderful family by his side.
Sullenberger earned international acclaim after he managed to safely land US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, after both engines got knocked out by a collision with birds. All 155 people aboard survived.
The water landing came to be known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Clint Eastwood dramatized Sullenberger’s heroic exploits in the 2016 film “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks in the title role.
Sullenberger retired in March 2010 after three decades as a professional pilot. In recent years, Sullenberger established himself as a prominent advocate for aviation safety.
Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, Sullenberger would say that ‘courage can be contagious,’ and on that day it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that airplane successfully.
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,” he added.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
