American Airlines plane makes emergency landing as pilot dies midflight

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American Airlines plane makes emergency landing as pilot dies midflight

An American Airlines pilot became gravely ill while flying from Phoenix to Boston and later died, but his first officer calmly took over and safely landed the plane in Syracuse, airline officials said. One hundred forty-seven passengers were onboard when Capt. Michael Johnston, 57, was stricken. Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive officer of American Airlines Group, said in a statement that Johnston “passed away while at work." American Flight 550 left Phoenix at 11:55 p.m. local time Sunday and was diverted midflight, landing shortly after 7 a.m. ET on Monday. After the captain became ill, the first officer took over. Passengers on the flight were told the pilot was sick and the airplane was making an emergency landing in Syracuse. They later learned of his death. A replacement crew was sent to Syracuse, and the plane landed in Boston at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Captains and co-pilots usually take turns flying the plane and doing takeoffs and landings, said James Record, a former airline pilot who now teaches aviation at Dowling College in Oakdale, N.Y. Record said the passengers on the American Airlines flight were never in danger. The co-pilot remained calm while describing the emergency and requesting permission from air traffic controllers to land the plane.