DALLAS - A captain on a Continental Airlines flight has died during the flight, says a person familiar with the situation.

WCBS-TV in New York says the pilot died on a flight from Brussels and the plane was expected to make an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport.

A person close to the situation confirmed the death to The Associated Press but gave no other details. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

Continental did not immediately respond to requests for comment

NEWARK, N.J. – A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman has confirmed that a Continental Airlines pilot has died in mid-flight.

Spokeswoman Arlene Salac says the airline alerted the FAA around 10:30 Thursday morning that Flight 61 from Brussels to Newark was being flown by two co-pilots.

Salac says the plane, a Boeing 777, will receive priority handling when it lands around noon.

Whoa.

SCNDLS said:

A Boeing 777 needs more than one person to land the plane.It's a widebody, it'll be interesting and I hope they make it. Continental is a good airline and I have no trouble with them, but they been going thru some turmoil stuff lately.

I wonder if the passengers know what's going on? Imagine that mid-flight announcement. It's prolly Lord of the Flies in that joint.

they landed safely, they say he died of natural causes, other stations are saying they haven't confirmed any causes yet..

SCNDLS said:

Not a chance they told the passengers.

thank god the passengers are okay, too much shit happening all at once, makes me paranoid about flying right after I got over my fear for years.

That would be scary!!
I remember we had a female pilot once on a flight to Poland.That was a pretty scary too.

scary stuff. there has been so many plane stuff lately.

put you off flying

I'm seeing mj in concert and getting so worried that I'm going out of my way and something will happen to me

Graycap23 said:

If i was on there, I wouldn't have wanted to know. Fuck that.
[Edited 6/18/09 12:40pm]

weused2luvhim said:

Me either.

Car accidents happen more often, and a lot more than it seems. It's just that we have the idea that you are more in control or your chances to survive seem better in a car. EVERYTHING can happen but it's not the mindset you should have. That's not the way to go through life because if you think about ALL the things that can happen you can't enjoy life. If they post all the car accidents that happened today in the whole world...It's not a way to live. I can go on and on. You have people that fly for their work all the time and ain't nothing happened to them.

alphastreet said:

the biggest risk you'll have is him not being able to perform.

seriously though, the plane landed ok. there is prob more risk involved in car travel.

SCNDLS said:

nope according to CNN they didn't know until the Reporters greeted them at the airport.

NMuzakNSoul said:

Thanks, Tips.

angelcat said:

there is normally a pilot and a copilot and most of the time the plane is set to autopilot.

JustErin said:

I'm just saying that cause you hear it often.

Oh, good grief. There were two first officers on the flight. First officers are perfectly capable of flying and landing a plane.

SCNDLS said:

I can't imagine that they told the passengers

"...Ladies and Gentlemen, we'd like to inform you of a situation taking place in the cockpit: Our pilot just passed away. Please, do not fret. We have full confidence that our co-pilot can land this plane safely at the nearest landing strip . Thank you for flying Continental Airlines."






Smooches;)

MsMisha319 said:

Even if the passengers weren't informed you know the flight attendants must've known and I'm sure they were looking all kinds of crazy.

ehuffnsd said:

MsMisha319 said:

Passengers heard an announcement asking if there were any doctors aboard, but no one thought much about it....one person wondered why there was so many cops outside. One ladies husband called to tell her....it seems like the passengers were calm and had no clue which is good. I used to hate going on planes I hate it even more....they are not safe I don't care what they tell us.

MsMisha319 said:

... And could all the passengers who also ate the fish meal please make themselves known to the cabin crew immediately."

muirdo said:

muirdo said:

You'd better be joking.

Sad situation. Even if the passengers weren't told (and I wouldn't have wanted to be told!) it must have been ha harrowing experience for the rest of the flight crew.

It would have been terrible to see a friend and colleague dying in front of you but this is exactly why they are co-pilots on flights.
Planes pretty much fly themselves when they're up there and a pilot will usually take control during take off and landing so I doubt the passengers were ever in any danger.
I just hope the pilot gave his wife and kids a great big hug that morning. rip.