Plane En Route To Boston Diverted To Syracuse, Lands Safely

The pilot of an American Airlines flight Monday from Phoenix to Boston with 152 passengers and crew on board died unexpectedly during the flight.

The flight was diverted to Syracuse, NY, where the co-pilot landed the plane safely.

The pilot was 57-year-old Michael Johnston. According to a report from CNN, Johnston became ill during the flight, and passed away at the controls. An autopsy showed that the death was due to natural causes, according to the Onondaga County, NY medical examiner. They offered no other specifics.

Johnston's wife BJ told television station KUTV that the pilot had undergone a double bypass in 2006, and that it was likely that he died from a heart attack.

In audio posted to LiveATC.net, someone can be heard telling a controller that there is a "medical emergency, captain is incapacitated" and requesting landing instructions. The passengers were initially told only that the pilot was sick.

The passengers waited in Syracuse while the body was removed, and then continued on to Boston, arriving about 5 hours late.

In a statement to employees, American CEO Doug Parker said that the crew "took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers."

FMI: www.american.com