AI Generated Image
'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot has early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, famed for safely landing a US Airways Airbus A320 on the Hudson River in 2009, announced he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease at age 75 and is currently receiving treatment.
- Sullenberger, known for his aviation safety advocacy and portrayed by Tom Hanks in the film "Sully," described early symptoms such as occasional memory lapses and sleep difficulties.
- He has a long history of promoting aviation safety, including serving as U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2022 and testifying before Congress on pilot training reforms following Boeing 737 MAX crashes.
- Sullenberger emphasized his enduring commitment to aviation safety, which began before his "Miracle on the Hudson" flight and will continue despite his diagnosis.
- Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older and is the sixth-leading cause of death in this age group, according to the CDC in 2024.
