Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks (70) portrayed him on the big screen, but in real life he saved 155 lives: Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (75) is one of the world's most famous pilots. Now the Hero of the Hudson has publicly revealed a serious diagnosis. He is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, as announced on his website. According to the announcement, the disease was diagnosed in August 2025.
"I recently learned that I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease", Sullenberger explained. He is still in an early stage: "Right now, that means a name doesn't come to me immediately, I forget a story I just told, or I don't sleep as well. But I am at the beginning of this long journey." His doctor at the University of California, San Francisco medical center opened his eyes to how widespread the disease is. Alzheimer's spares no age group and affects millions of people worldwide.
The emergency landing on the Hudson made him a legend
Sullenberger became world-famous on January 15, 2009. After birds flew into both engines of his Airbus A320, the then US Airways captain landed the aircraft on New York's Hudson River. All 150 passengers and five crew members survived. Sullenberger checked the sinking plane one more time and was the last to leave.
After his retirement in 2010, the former military pilot remained involved in aviation as an expert on flight safety. His autobiography "You Don't Have to Be a Hero" provided the basis for Clint Eastwood's film "Sully" (2016), in which Tom Hanks played the lead role.
Despite the illness, the former fighter pilot is looking forward. In September, he will be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. After the emergency landing in 2009, he often said that courage can be contagious. "Now we need that courage to fight this disease. I am now part of a larger community, and we will be courageous together."
