The plane, carrying 152 passengers, was flying from Boston to Phoenix when the 57-year-old pilot fell ill, CNN reports. The co-pilot took over and landed the flight safely in Syracuse, N.Y.
The pilot, later identified as Capt. Michael Johnston, 57, died from an unspecified illness.Upon descent, crew members told the 152 people on board that the pilot was ill and the flight was being diverted.
"They just said, 'Hi. We have to make an emergency landing. The pilot's not feeling well,'" said, a passenger. "When we landed, we thought that he just wasn't feeling well. We had no idea he had passed. It was extremely shocking.
"WFXT obtained air-traffic control communications as the co-pilot of Flight 550 prepared for an early landing.
"Syracuse, American 550 is out at 15,000 for 5,000," the crew said. "Medical emergency, the captain is incapacitated. Request handling for runway, one-zero landing."
"They said that the pilot was really sick, and that was it," Julia House said." And we saw ambulances pulling up."
Passengers waited inside the airport as emergency crews removed the body and prepared the plane for another crew to fly the aircraft to Boston. The somber news was confirmed when they re-boarded the plane. The flight finally arrived at Logan Airport shortly after noon.
"I really think you've got to hand it to the co-pilot," said passenger Frank Cacciola, "because, I'll tell you, I don't know what I would've done in that situation."
Cacciola and a few other passengers took pictures of a rainbow that formed while the pilot's body was removed from the plane in Syracuse. They said the unexpected sight provided comfort.
"This rainbow came out, and the skies opened up as if his spirit was leaving the plane and going to heaven," Cacciola said.
An American Airlines pilot died suddenly during a flight Monday, leaving the plane's first officer to make an emergency landing with 152 people on board. http://fxn.ws/1MakNdr
Posted by Fox Business on Tuesday, October 6, 2015