Continental pilot dies during flight... [18-Jun-2009][threads merged]
#46
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NorCal
Posts: 658
Wow, my condolences to the family. CO is just not having good luck lately.
I know 61-64 yr olds are more likely to have health problems then younger pilots, but with modern medicine, it's not that old and you can be quite healthy with a little effort. I dunno, I like having really experienced pilots. A copilot is there in case something should happen, like here.
I know 61-64 yr olds are more likely to have health problems then younger pilots, but with modern medicine, it's not that old and you can be quite healthy with a little effort. I dunno, I like having really experienced pilots. A copilot is there in case something should happen, like here.
#47
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It can be tough to see what's happening up front on a 777, if I recall correctly. The galley complex is between the passengers and the flight deck.
#48
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My condolences to the pilot's family.
#49
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
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Those in BF cabin would certainly know as pilot would have to have been brought into the front galley to be resuscitated and would have heard call for medical assistance and seen medical people walk straight past them
#50
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#51
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My condolances to the family as well.
#53
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
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Posts: 7,256
This is very sad news. My condolences to this pilots family ,coworkers, friends, & anyone else I failed to mention.
#54
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Posts: 928
So sad. Very sorry for the family. My father was 61 when he died of a heart attack so my thoughts and prayers are certainly with everyone
The Houston Chronicle has a few more details. His family has been notified. A doctor on board pronounced him dead.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6486266.html
The Houston Chronicle has a few more details. His family has been notified. A doctor on board pronounced him dead.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6486266.html
#55
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,754
Cause of death?
There will be certainly much more said when the cause of death is determined, and the circumstances leading to the death are ascertained, as this would have implications for health screening, lifestyle, and medical management of pilots.
It is though inappropriate for the airline to declare the pilot died of natural causes - that is something for the medical examiner to determine. Without knowledge of his medical history, circumstances of death, and very likely, an autopsy it is impossible to ascertain what he died of.
#56
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA 1K, 2.3 MM
Posts: 439
I'm sure BF pax would know, the CBS story stated they placed him in a crew rest seat. Unless there is an area not in the seating section for rest on this aircraft.
#57
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
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Posts: 4,783
It is though inappropriate for the airline to declare the pilot died of natural causes - that is something for the medical examiner to determine. Without knowledge of his medical history, circumstances of death, and very likely, an autopsy it is impossible to ascertain what he died of.
#58
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 487
My condolences to the family as well.
A reporter from MSNBC is speaking with some of the pax from that flight. He is reporting that the pax were not notified that the captain had died, but that the crew did ask for the assistance of any medical personnel on board. Also, many of the pax said that although they're learning of the events now from the media, they're okay that they weren't notified on board because it probably would have caused quite a panic.
A reporter from MSNBC is speaking with some of the pax from that flight. He is reporting that the pax were not notified that the captain had died, but that the crew did ask for the assistance of any medical personnel on board. Also, many of the pax said that although they're learning of the events now from the media, they're okay that they weren't notified on board because it probably would have caused quite a panic.
#59
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,754
I suspect when the autopsy findings are released CO will have a lot of answering to do...it should be extremely unusual for someone to have sudden totally unexpected death while under regular medical surveillance and with presumed tight guidelines on flying with symptoms of illness. For someone with a clean bill of health, determined by very intense medical screening pilots are presumably subject to, to be totally healthy and free of symptoms and then suddenly drop dead at work would be very very rare.
It would surprise me if it does not become revealed that either there has been a lapse in the rigor of medical screening, lapse in his medical care or there were health symptoms that were not evaluated. If none of these is the case then unnatural causes need to be excluded.