Co-pilot lands plane after pilot dies in flight

[derekkj 0]

The reason you need a co-pilot in the first place!

Co-pilot lands plane after pilot dies in flight

Continental Airlines employee fell ill during takeoff, later pronounced dead

Updated: 10:10 a.m. ET Jan. 21, 2007

McALLEN, Texas - The pilot of a Continental Airlines flight became ill after takeoff and was later pronounced dead after the plane made an emergency landing Saturday, a company spokeswoman said.

The 210 passengers on the flight, which departed from Houston, were never in danger and the co-pilot landed the plane safely, Continental spokeswoman Macky Osorio said.

The airline said only that the pilot suffered a “serious medical problem.” Continental believes the pilot died of natural causes, Osorio said.

The pilot’s name was not released.

The flight, bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, took off from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and was diverted to McAllen-Miller International Airport.

The flight continued to Mexico with a new crew, Osorio said.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Nessa 23]

With today's technology anyone with a brain can land a plane.

[Mags 112]

With today's technology anyone with a brain can land a plane.

Fly yes, land no. That still takes training and skill.

[Alanlvsjudy 0]

With today's technology anyone with a brain can land a plane.

Fly yes, land no. That still takes training and skill.

Funny how many people think they could fly a plane without training, as a pilot I have yet to see one that could, Much less land.

Most people think its similar to driving a car, it is...in the same way chewing gum is similar to calculus.

[Nikita2Charles 33]

Most people think flying is Easy. It may seems like it but it's not a joke

I fly cessna, Piper, Cherokee, which is only single engine, There are a lot of classes lot to learn, it's not like riding a bicycle around the corner. One little mistake can turn into a major disastor, things happen really fast up there. On my 1st flight I was in a cessna, I was with some friends and on the Radio the tower control told us to hold our position, we have incoming at 3'oclock before you know it, less than 20 seconds I could see this F18 passing by, If you are really close forget about it. Commercial Jet in a way I would say may seem a little bit easier since you have so much electronic involve, but each one of them play a vital role, try to remember all those buttons. managin, your rudder, your flap and so on, or if fortunate enough to Fly inside a jumbo jet cockpit, you would see how much preparation is involved even before the flight gets off the ground.

[garya505 2]

I once had a near miss even though I did exactly what the air trafffic controller told me to do!

[Alanlvsjudy 0]

I once had a near miss even though I did exactly what the air trafffic controller told me to do!

Heh, I thought that was the standard procedure, when I was learning to fly, tower cleared me into takeoff position about 30 seconds before a 737 landed on my runway!

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Probably from watching a lot of movies where the 'hero' land the plane in the end!! ... M.

[Mags 112]

Probably from watching a lot of movies where the 'hero' land the plane in the end!! ... M.

Yeah, I've seen Airplane y'know....

[MichelleandCraig 1]

AHHHHHHHHHHH Snakes ...ON A PLANE!!!! M.

[Ban Hammer 14,289]

With today's technology anyone with a brain can land a plane.

Fly yes, land no. That still takes training and skill.

actually, nessa is right. anyone can land a plane. now if the plane is still in one piece after the landing, that's another matter

[Fuzzness 2]

If the plane has an autoland feature, then yes anyone can fly a plane. But you would need someone on the other end of the radio to tell you what to do.

[Mags 112]

With today's technology anyone with a brain can land a plane.

Fly yes, land no. That still takes training and skill.

actually, nessa is right. anyone can land a plane. now if the plane is still in one piece after the landing, that's another matter

No Charles, it should read "anybody can CRASH a plane"...

[Fuzzness 2]

sorry i meant LAND a plane

[Ban Hammer 14,289]

sorry i meant LAND a plane

note from pilot to maintenance: autoland does not work

note from maintenance to pilot: autoland not installed on this plane

Edited January 22, 2007 by charlesandnessa