Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who landed a disabled US Airways plane in the Hudson in 2009, has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. He joined the ceremony by video, two months after publicly disclosing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
On 15 January 2009, Flight 1549 struck a flock of birds shortly after leaving New York’s LaGuardia Airport, causing both engines to lose thrust. Sullenberger determined the plane could not return to the airport and landed it in the Hudson; all 155 people aboard—150 passengers and five crew—survived.
Sullenberger said the 2009 emergency landing played a major role in his induction, but stressed his career was “much more than one flight.” After disclosing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in July, he said he hoped speaking out would encourage other families affected by the disease to come forward.
