Miracle on the Hudson' hero Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis

“Miracle on the Hudson” hero Captain “Sully” Sullenberger is disclosing a new Alzheimer’s diagnosis, underscoring how the aftermath of aviation trauma can affect long-term health. Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, 75, said he received an official diagnosis in August 2025 and that it is in the early stage. He told People that over the past year he has struggled recalling details despite a photographic memory. Sullenberger linked his doctor’s assessment to heightened risk following post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after US Airways Flight 1549’s emergency landing on Jan. 15, 2009, when all 155 people aboard survived. He is being treated through discussion with Dr. Gil Rabinovici of UCSF Medical Center. The news matters because Alzheimer’s affects more than seven million Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.