Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, known for landing a commercial jet on the Hudson River, has shared that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The incident on January 15, 2009, where Sullenberger landed a US Airways flight with 155 people onboard after a bird strike disabled both engines, is remembered as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Sullenberger, in his announcement, stated, “I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is early stage. For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well, but I am in the beginning of this long journey.”

Sullenberger shared, “This disease, [my doctor] has told me, spares no age group and impacts millions of people around the world. It is the unwanted visitor at the door.” His actions during the emergency landing, portrayed by Tom Hanks in the 2016 film “Sully,” remain significant.

Passengers considered Sullenberger “guided by angels” for his skillful landing.

The incident saw passengers safely evacuated after the jet’s engines failed due to bird ingestion shortly after takeoff. All 155 individuals were unharmed, crediting Sullenberger and the crew as heroes.

Reflecting on the event, Sullenberger noted, “Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I 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.”

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that around 7.4 million Americans live with the disease, still without a cure.