[0:00]an American Airlines pilot died while flying a passenger jet from Phoenix to Boston today. Here's what we know.
[0:09]There were 147 passengers on this plane, a crew of five people on board.
[0:14]The co-pilot took over when the captain fell ill and collapsed. The plane was diverted to Syracuse, New York where it did land safely.
[0:22]So let me bring in CNN aviation analyst Les Abend and less, so you have a pilot die mid-flight.
[0:30]What is, what is protocol? Is there protocol for that?
[0:34]Well, first of all, let me offer my condolences to the family of the of a colleague.
[0:41]Um, uh, secondly, the the protocol is, this is not something that we necessarily train for. Um, but the but the uh the co-pilot in that right seat is is as is as qualified, equally as qualified as the captain to fly that airplane.
[0:56]So, um, it's very disconcerting but once we realize what the situation is, uh it sounds like he did what he had to do.
[1:04]He got a hold of air traffic control, said said that uh that he was responsive. Um, at that point what you're going to do is just try uh obviously we can't be physicians at the same time.
[1:16]So if it was me, I'd want to attempt to get the airplane on the ground and try to save this individual. Um, and that's exactly what this co-pilot did.
[1:24]So he's perfectly capable. Uh, he or she is perfectly capable of of of making this happen. So, as all of this is happening in the cockpit, Les, the next question is how how open um would you be with the passengers on board this plane?
[1:40]Do you say medical emergency? We need to get this this, you know, bird down on the ground or do you explain what exactly is happening?
[1:45]You that's that's a great question and it's going to depend upon the individual.
[1:50]Uh, obviously you're going to have to tell the passengers something. Um, and most likely, uh I'm not going to speak or speculate for this co-pilot, but if it was me in that situation, I'd be completely honest with the passengers, uh and let them know what exactly was happening.
[2:07]And and I think, um, to use a to use a bad upon at this point, but everybody would be on board with this and and certainly want to get this uh this captain, uh medical attention or this pilot medical attention.
