http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15587328/
Co-pilot lands plane after pilot dies in flight
Continental Airlines employee fell ill during takeoff, later pronounced deadMcALLEN, Texas – The pilot of a Continental Airlines flight became ill after takeoff and was later pronounced dead after the plane made an emergency landing Saturday, a company spokeswoman said.
The 210 passengers on the flight, which departed from Houston, were never in danger and the co-pilot landed the plane safely, Continental spokeswoman Macky Osorio said.
The airline said only that the pilot suffered a “serious medical problem.” Continental believes the pilot died of natural causes, Osorio said.
Story continues below ↓ advertisementThe pilot’s name was not released.
The flight, bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, took off from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and was diverted to McAllen-Miller International Airport.
The flight continued to Mexico with a new crew, Osorio said.
By: wozza - 24th January 2007 at 17:41
A great shame indeed.
At least we have two man crews in case of such an event, what occurs in the future when the computer flying the plane gets ‘seriously ill’ :confused:
By: steve rowell - 22nd January 2007 at 05:51
Anyone remember the BEA Trident that came down in Staines….Apparently Captain Stanley Keys suffered a heart attack just after take off and pulled the droops in to early…..he was such a bullying terse type of character that his two subordinates on the flight deck were too scared to overide his decision and the plane crashed with the loss of all souls onboard
Some very poignant memories here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/june/18/newsid_3001000/3001756.stm
By: Whiskey Delta - 22nd January 2007 at 05:34
of course. 🙂
It’s pretty standard airline policy that no one ever officially dies on board an airplane, they are only seriously ill. Once they reach the airport the “seriously ill passenger” is removed and pronounced dead then (not on the airplane). As you noticed, the official press releases are worded just that way which comes across as a bit odd.
By: Ren Frew - 22nd January 2007 at 01:36
I hate these ‘press releases’ from airlines…
Not often you can describe death as a “serious medical problem” but there you go… No doubt this poor fellow’s life insurance will be deducted to accomodate the inconvenience suffered by the diversion.. ?:(
I’m joking Bill…
By: steve rowell - 22nd January 2007 at 01:19
How very unfortunate…i wonder if it was announced to the passengers…..i guess that’s why we have a two man flight crew
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January 21, 2007 at 11:54 pm