‘Miracle on the Hudson’ pilot Chesley Sullenberger inducted into US Aviation Hall of Fame
Capt Chesley Sullenberger, known for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, two months after disclosing an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
The 75-year-old former US Airways pilot joined this year's Hall of Fame class during a ceremony held Thursday in Washington DC, alongside five other inductees including Nasa astronauts and aviation researchers. Sullenberger took part remotely via video, thanking organizers for the honor and congratulating his fellow inductees on their lifetime achievements.
He noted that his career extended far beyond the single flight that made him famous, recalling that he had dreamed of flying since childhood and spent his entire working life pursuing that passion.
The flight that made history
On 15 January 2009, Sullenberger was piloting US Airways Flight 1549 from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying 150 passengers and five crew members. Shortly after takeoff, the plane struck a flock of birds, causing both engines to lose all thrust. Realizing a return to LaGuardia was impossible, he opted to land the aircraft on the Hudson River instead. All 155 people aboard survived, and the episode later became the basis for a Tom Hanks film.
Disclosing his diagnosis
In July, Sullenberger revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, saying the new phase of his life had changed how he thought about public service and expressing hope that speaking openly would encourage other affected families to do the same. In a Wednesday interview with ABC, he described feeling shock and anger upon learning of the diagnosis. His wife, Lorrie Sullenberger, said the condition is a disease rather than a character flaw and called for more open conversation about it. According to the Alzheimer's Association, roughly 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older live with clinical Alzheimer's dementia.
