‘Miracle on the Hudson’ hero Sully Sullenberger reveals Alzheimer’s warning signs he missed years ago

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the former airline pilot celebrated worldwide for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, is taking on a new mission to raise awareness about the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease .

Sullenberger, who was diagnosed with the disease in August 2025, spoke on " Good Morning America " alongside his wife, Lorrie, to share their personal experience with the condition.

The couple revealed several subtle shifts in routine and behavior that began surfacing several years before he received an official medical evaluation . 'MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON' HERO CAPTAIN 'SULLY' SULLENBERGER REVEALS ALZHEIMER'S DIAGNOSIS Reflecting on the timeline leading up to her husband's formal assessment, Lorrie Sullenberger noted that small adjustments in everyday life slowly pointed toward a bigger shift.

"A lot of what I think people see in the news are late-stage Alzheimer's symptoms.

And so in the very beginning, they are so subtle.

And my advice to someone would be, it's what's unusual for your person," she shared, emphasizing how early symptoms often manifest gradually rather than abruptly.

TV NEWS ANCHORMAN REVEALS HE HAS ALZHEIMER'S DURING FINAL NIGHT HELMING BROADCAST Public understanding of Alzheimer’s disease frequently focuses on these late-stage symptoms, such as pronounced memory loss , severe disorientation or difficulty managing basic daily routines.

However, medical experts say early-stage cognitive decline can be much harder to spot.

"One of the first things I noticed was that it was harder and harder to remember people’s names, even people we knew," Sullenberger said.

"That’s still an issue.

Just forgetting things that I normally wouldn’t.

Or repeating myself, not realizing that I just said that an hour ago." Early indicators of Alzheimer's often present as mild cognitive impairment or subtle changes tailored to an individual’s normal baseline, according to health resources like Cleveland Clinic.

These can include misplacing everyday items, mild difficulty finding the right words during conversations, subtle changes in mood or executive function, or taking slightly longer to complete familiar tasks.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Because these early shifts often mimic normal signs of aging, loved ones are usually the first to notice small anomalies in behavior.