Capt. Sully Recalls the ‘Shock, Anger’ He Felt After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis but Says He’s ‘Not Giving Up’ (Exclusive)
Capt. Sully Recalls the ‘Shock, Anger’ He Felt After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis but Says He’s ‘Not Giving Up’ (Exclusive)
Vanessa EtienneThu, September 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Captain SullyCredit: Good Morning America -
Capt. Sully Sullenberger opened up about the emotional impact of his early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
The heroic pilot hopes sharing his journey inspires others facing the disease to feel less alone
Sullenberger famously landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, saving 155 passengers and crew
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III is opening up about living with Alzheimer’s disease.
In an exclusive clip of an upcoming interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, the heroic 75-year-old pilot — with his wife Lorrie by his side — gets candid about receiving his diagnosis in August 2025.
“We felt all those emotions,” he admits. “The shock. The anger. Why me?”
In a trailer for the segment, which is set to air on Wednesday, Sept. 24, Roberts asks Sullenberger about the challenges he faces and how he deals with them.
“It’s as simple as not being afraid. Just not giving up,” he said. “If this has to be my last flight, I’m going to go out using full afterburner.”
“Spoken like a true pilot. Spoken like a true American hero,” Roberts replied, telling him that he’s loved and supported by so many people.
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Sullenberger — who became a national celebrity when he managed to land US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, after a bird strike destroyed the plane’s engines, saving all 155 passengers and crew — first revealed to PEOPLE in July that he was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage. It progressively affects memory, thinking and behavior and is serious enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III and wife Lorrie sit down with Robin RobertsCredit: Good Morning America
Sullenberger said he decided to use his high profile to let others dealing with the neurodegenerative disorder know that they aren’t alone.
“This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service,” he told PEOPLE. “And the answer is to speak up. It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward. And about hope. So many people told us after Flight 1549, that the outcome gave them hope. Lorrie, my incredible partner of 37 years, says we can all use a little of that hope right now.”
Watch the Robin Roberts exclusive on Good Morning America, Wednesday morning on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
