American Airlines pilot dies during flight

The 147 passengers aboard AA550 had no idea what was happening in the cockpit once their plane started making an emergency landing, passenger Louise Anderson told the Daily News. The co-pilot landed the flight safely shortly after 7 a.m. ET, the airline said.

She says her husband had a double bypass surgery in 2006.

“The passengers were not in danger, absolutely not”, he said.

American CEO Doug Parker late tonight identified the pilot as Captain Michael Johnston, 57, who was based in Phoenix.

In the air with more than 150 people on board, the pilot of American Airlines flight 550, Mike Johnston of West Jordan, had a heart attack.

Before the flight landed at Syracuse, the first officer called the airport tower and said, “American 550”.

According to a press release from the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office, Johnston died in flight of natural causes.

“What is important is the consistent result – the plane lands safely”, Wallace said to WCVB-TV. Our airport teams in Syracuse and Boston were also instrumental in assisting our customers, and their handling is also greatly appreciated.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said seven pilots for USA airlines and one charter pilot had died during flights since 1994.

Taking control of the airbus, the first officer sent a panicked radio message to emergency ground control demanding permission to land as an air stewardess – a former nurse – fought to save his life.

She said: “He knew that he wanted to be a pilot, he knew that was what he wanted to do”.

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

Cockpit recordings reveal at least one member crew confirming that the captain was “incapacitated”, before eventually stating that he has become “unresponsive [and is] not breathing”.

To this day, one of the primary reasons commercial flights require that at least two qualified pilots are aboard so that one is available if the other dies or is otherwise incapacitated, Forbes reports. “Our thoughts are definitely with the crew member’s friends and family…” The passengers commended the co-pilot who had apparently took control of the plane with aplomb during the incident.