When its time to go, its time to go...
Continental Flight 61, whose pilot died midflight Thursday while flying from Brussels, Belgium, to Newark, New Jersey, has landed safely, the Federal Aviation Administration and Continental Airlines said.
The Boeing 777 landed at Newark International Airport at 11:49 a.m. ET Thursday, Continental Airlines said.
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The Boeing 777 landed at Newark International Airport at 11:49 a.m. ET Thursday, the airline said, after the 61-year-old Newark-based pilot died "apparently of natural causes."
No further details were given.
Asked whether the plane's 247 passengers had been told of the situation, a Continental spokesman said only that the plane had arrived safely.
Passengers told CNN they were not told of the situation, only that an announcement for a doctor was made during the flight.
The airline said the crew on the flight included a relief pilot who took the place of the deceased man.
The pilot had 21 years of service with Continental, the airline said.
While I don't advocate putting my life on 'speed dial', you can't live your life afraid to live for fear of dying. I very much believe that whatever you're doing, wherever you are, when your number comes up, you will be found and your time here on earth will end (as we know it and in this lifetime).
ReplyDeleteHats off to the airline and crew for making the decision to get folks on the ground safely before word of the pilots demise hit the air (no pun intended). I'm sure there are those who feel the 'right to know' belonged with them at that very moment, however, we all know the frenzy that would have ensued had the crew shared this news way above the clouds. I say....job well done!!
My brotha,nice site you have son! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree Victoria. Had the passengers known about the death of the pilot while they were in the air, there would have been chaos!
Good thing the relief pilot was available and coherent. I wonder what he was thinking about during the whole process, Geesh! We all have to go some day, this guy here, went out in style!