CNN is reporting that the pilot of Continental Flight 61 from Brussels to Newark died midflight, forcing a relief pilot to take over the controls of the Boeing 777.
The pilot, who had more than 20 years of service to the airline, died of natural causes. The flight landed safely at Newark.
Pilot dies midflight, FAA says [CNN]
More From Consumerist
-
Passenger Steps Up To Help Fly Plane When Co-Pilot Gets Migraine
-
Passengers Filing Suit Against JetBlue Didn’t Appreciate Pilot Freaking Out On Their Flight
-
Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Pilot Passes Out
-
Will A Looming Possible Pilot Shortage Result In Airlines Hiring Sub Par Crew?
-
Flying The Friendly Skies Friday: The Happiest of Birthdays; Upgrades For Everybody
Did he have the fish?
@bagumpity: Roger Roger
@bagumpity:
“What’s your vector Victor?”
“Do we have clearance Clarence?”
“Over Over”
@WarOtter:
@bagumpity: It was a choice between steak or fish.
Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.
@bagumpity: They still serve food on airliners?
@bagumpity: “Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna. “
Natural causes at 61?
@Joewithay: Wow he was 61 and he died on flight 61 weird….
@Joewithay: is that why it’s called “coincidental flight 61) in the article?
@Joewithay: Just means foul play wasn’t suspected. Doesn’t mean it’s not related to too many not-so-natural fast food meals.
@Joewithay: Heart attack = natural causes. Stroke = natural causes.
NOT saying that either one happened, just that these things (a) are considered natural causes, and (b) have happened to people much younger than 61. Not unheard of at all.
@Joewithay: Agreed. It must have been Stewardess Brown with the pipe in the black box room. Or it might have been Passenger Plum with a candlestick in the galley….
“Hey I know you, you’re Kareem Abdul Jabar!”
@WarOtter: “But just remember, my name is ROGER MURDOCK. I’m an airline pilot. “
Was Kenan Thompson there to land it?
I feel kind of weird. I’m right under the flight path for EWR at my office, and we have had BADDD rain all day. Of course, if the pilot dies, there’s always a stewardess to land the plane. But seriously, my sympathy to the family.
Also, and perhaps I am wrong, but I was always told that you are never pronounced dead on the plane, as it would have to be impounded for an investigation, but rather, you are pronounced on the “bridge”/terminal, to avoid losing a plane for awhile.
@MadAsFishGrease_GitEmSteveDave: I suspect that where you are pronounced dead has to do with whether there is someone with the authority to make the pronouncement is on the plane. I haven’t read anything saying how/when he was pronounced dead, or even if he has been pronounced dead, but I’m glad to see Continental doesn’t have a crazy corporate policy of not allowing first officers to take over until the pilot is examined and pronounced dead by 4 coroners on the ground or anything crazy like that.
@K-Bo: I heard Grissom and Saddle were pissed.
bad week for continental. first two kids get routed incorrectly, now this. things happen in 3′s as they say…
@dmolavi: I know, right? Seems like they can’t catch a break.
Relief pilot? So in addition to the First Officer (Co-Pilot) there was also an additional relief pilot on board (likely due to the long haul duration of the flight).
Sorry for being so nit picky on this, but the write up suggests there was no pilot to take the controls following the death… Yes, there were apparently two other qualified pilots on board.
@GreatWhiteNorth: What about the navigator? He does an important job, yet is always forgotten. And what about Karen Black?!
@MadAsFishGrease_GitEmSteveDave:
Most modern planes don’t have navigators. With radar and GPS and ground tracking and all that stuff their job is largely irrelevant now.
@MadAsFishGrease_GitEmSteveDave: Navigators with slide rules and sextants were long ago replaced by computers and GPS. The 777 has a 2 man cockpit crew.
@GreatWhiteNorth: BBC has a little more info: “Two co-pilots were in control of the plane – a Boeing 777 carrying 247 passengers – said Federal Aviation Authority spokeswoman Arlene Salac.”
@GreatWhiteNorth: His name was probably Otto!
Dear Consumerist,
As an infrequent, but nervous flier, I would like to politely request you stop making me feel nervous and panicky with these stories of misplaced children, pilots who meet their demise mid-flight, and non-English-speaking mechanics. I like my dream world of perfectly running engines and healthy (and bi-lingual) crew members, and would like to request more cat photos, especially for today.
Thanks!
Pecan Pi
@pecan 3.14159265: Seconded!
@pecan 3.14159265: Well, as long as you’re not a 12-year-old Belgium girl you probably have nothing to worry about.
@pecan 3.14159265: Yeah, we need more dead rats in food stories or idiot employees taking baths in the restaurant sink stories…
what was so coincidental about it?
@Megalomania: He was 61 years old on Flight 61
If I’ve learned anything from TV, this guy did not die of natural causes. Mr. Monk, get in here!
Where do they put the dead pilot during the flight? Do they drag him down the aisle a la Airplane? Do they just leave his fetid, stinky corpse in the cockpit?
@mannyv: They probably put him in a first class seat and covered his head with a hat just like in “Commando”
Does the relief pilot get credited with a save?