MSNBC: A CAL captain just died in flight. Plane making an emergency landing

[hkgorbust]

Typical inbound to EWR.

 

[EWR_FO]

how do you know his age already?

If he works for CO it's not too hard to figure out.

 

[800Dog]

I believe they had an FO die several years ago enroute and he was in his 40s. Unfortunately, we have lost a couple FOs at Delta recently due to cancer. Can happen to anyone.

 

[wmuflyguy]

They just descended through 16,000 ft 150 miles out. I wonder why?

because it is EWR.

 

[jetpig32]

If he works for CO it's not too hard to figure out.

Exactly.

 

[jetpig32]

I believe they had an FO die several years ago enroute and he was in his 40s. Unfortunately, we have lost a couple FOs at Delta recently due to cancer. Can happen to anyone.

http://cbs3.com/watercooler/Continental.Airlines.plane.2.277449.html

A captain upgrade. Late 50's. Doing IOE. Another sad story. He had been an FO his whole career and decided to upgrade before he retired. Died in IOE.

 

[sat74]

Too late... there is LIVE coverage of the plane landing on CNN:

"There are 2 First Officers on board - is this normal?"
"Are they trained to land?"
"The "backup crew" is trained to take over when a medical emergency takes place"
"The "backup crew" will try to make the landing as normal as possible and align the airplane with the runway..."


It amazes me how ignorant the media and our viewers are. In Europe they feature aviation almost daily on TV and in documentries which is probably why the profession is held to a much higher regard. They actually know that a crew involves more than just a Captain whereas FO's in America hold the same distinction as FA's at best!

 

[Chief Pilot]

61 yrs old huh. I know everyone is thinking it. He could have chosen to spend the last year or so of his life with his family, but didn't. Gives new meaning to "fly 'til you die."

 

[Carl_Spackler]

and now according to CNN: the first officers are commandeering the aircraft

 

[Raskal]

and now according to CNN: the first officers are commandeering the aircraft

Oh boy. Don't look now but they're probably getting more news off twitter. Idiots.