Even though it is rare, it is not unprecedented for medical emergencies to occur during air flights. And it is far less common when they involve the plane's pilot especially if that pilot dies.
On Monday October 5, on an American Airlines flight between Phoenix and Boston, American Pilot, Captain Michael Johnston, 57, who was piloting the plane fell ill somewhere en route. It took the co-pilot to land the jet safely.
CNN reports that crew members
"took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers," airline CEO Doug Parker said in a statement sent to employees.
Also, an autopsy and preliminary toxicology tests
"showed that the death was the result of natural diseases," the Onondaga County, New York, medical examiner's office said.
Johnston's wife disclosed that her husband had a double bypass surgery in 2006. She said she was told he likely died of a heart attack.
"Whatever happened in the cockpit, none of us will know," passenger Frank Cacciola who was among the 147 passengers and five crew members aboard Flight 550 when it took off around midnight, heading from the Southwest to the Northeast, told CNN.
Those on board knew something was wrong when a woman's "quivering" voice came over the intercom, alerting them the pilot was sick, passenger Peter McSwiggin told WCVB.
According to passenger Julia House, passengers waited for the body to be removed. They made it to Boston after noon, nearly five hours after their scheduled time.
Passengers expressed sadness about what happened and gratitude they arrived safely.
"If it wasn't for the copilot using a cool head," McSwiggin said,
"it might have been more disastrous."