American Airlines captain dies at the controls

[davidn3600]

An American Airlines captain died at the controls mid-flight despite desperate attempts by an air stewardess to revive him.

The pilot of Flight 550, whose name has not been released, was flying from Phoenix to Boston on Monday morning when he became 'incapacitated'.

Taking control of the airbus, the first officer sent a panicked radio message to emergency ground control demanding permission to land as an air stewardess - a former nurse - fought to save his life.

Passengers told CBS News they felt a sharp drop and some turbulence before the co-pilot announced the captain was 'feeling unwell'.

The cause of death has not been released.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3260744/American-Airlines-captain-dies-controls-despite-desperate-efforts-air-stewardess-save-him.html

[Capt. Obvious]

1. It's a good thing they had autopilot

[COLGATE4]

3. Actually, it WAS the autopilot that was stricken.

Too many cigarettes and in-flight sex got him.

[MineralMan]

2. That's why we have competent copilots on commercial flights.

[DFW]

4. Except occasionally on German Wings flights between Düsseldorf and Barcelona

Like the German Wings flight from Düsseldorf to Barcelona that I have to be on in 8 hours! (gulp!)

The fact that the LH pilot crashed his plane on the way back was, as you might imagine, of little comfort.