CityRoom is reporting on the death of a Continental Airlines pilot who died mid-flight while operating a Boeing 777 aircraft. The pilot, whose name has not be released, was 61 years old and apparently died of natural causes.
The plane was able to land safely with all 247 passengers at Newark International Airport after two first officers took control of the plane.
I wonder if the crew has to tell the passengers that their pilot died when something like this happens. Or does the crew just keep it amongst themselves to prevent panicked passengers?
passengers had no idea about anything except the need for a doctor for someone on the plane (they called for one over the PA). i’m sure it never occurred to anyone that it might be for the captain (who was already dead by time the doctor saw him).
http://news.aol.com/article/pilot-dies-during-flight/532802?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fpilot-dies-during-flight%2F532802
more info: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/18/pilot.dead/index.html