American Airlines jet lands safely after pilot falls ill

Early Tuesday, American Airlines formally identified the pilot as Captain Michael Johnston, 57. The flight left Phoenix at 11:55 p.m. Sunday carrying 147 passengers and five crew members.

American Airlines released a statement to that said, “Unfortunately, our captain passed away”.

“Syracuse, American 550, medical emergency, captain is incapacitated, request handling for runway”, the co-pilot’s radio transmission transcript read.

The first officer, the other pilot on the plane, did not fly the rest of the flight per “standard procedure”, Huguely said.

In a recording of his exchange with the tower, the officer expresses concern whether ambulance medics can get on the plane quickly.

One passenger, Louise Anderson, said she dozed off during the flight, but she woke to a somber mood on board.

The co-pilot landed the plane after the mid-air emergency while desperate colleagues unsuccessfully tried to revive the captain.

James Record, a former airline pilot who now teaches aviation at Dowling College in Oakdale, New York told AP that there was likely minimal risk to the passengers and crew as the co-pilot was obviously qualified to fly the jet solo.

“This is a terribly sad event and American Airlines is focused on caring for the pilot’s family at this time, as well as the American Airlines staff and passengers on board the flight”, an airline spokeswoman said. The plane was immediately diverted and landed just after 7AM.

“We had to wait for the body to be removed from the plane”, said passenger Julia House.

Flight 550, en route from Phoenix to Boston, made an emergency landing at Syracuse in upstate New York, CNN reported.

“[The crew] took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers”, read a statement from the airline. The passengers didn’t know anything was wrong until a woman’s “quivering voice” came over the cabin intercom alerting the passengers that the pilot was sick.

Cpt Johnston had been flying as a first officer and then as a captain since 1990. “Our thoughts are definitely with the crew member’s friends and family…”

The Federal Aviation Administration said only six commercial airline pilots have died in mid-flight since 1994.

He had flown Bombardier Dash 8s, and Boeing 737s, and 757s, before flying the A320, the airline said.