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.
Early Stage Diagnosis
Sullenberger, 75, said in a statement on his website that his diagnosis is in the early stage. He hopes that by sharing the news of his diagnosis, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward.
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.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
