An American Airlines pilot died during a flight from Phoenix to Boston
Monday morning, leaving his co-pilot to make an emergency landing in
Syracuse, officials said.
The 147 passengers aboard AA550 had no idea what was happening in the
cockpit once their plane started veering toward upstate New York,
passenger Louise Anderson told the Daily News.
"It was a smooth landing," she said. "The staff seemed a little
frazzled, but they handled it
professionally. Some people were annoyed
because it had been such a long flight and now we were delayed more. But
no one was worried."
Only after the passengers boarded another Boston-bound plane, with a
replacement crew, did they learn of their fallen pilot: Captain Michael
Johnston.
The 57-year-old pilot based out of Phoenix, Ariz., fell ill during
Monday’s flight and died, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker announced in
a memo to employees.
“I want to take a moment to thank Mike’s crewmembers on Flight #550.
They took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers. We
couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork this crew showed during an
extremely difficult time. Our airport teams in Syracuse and Boston were
also instrumental in assisting our customers, and their handling is also
greatly appreciated,” Parker wrote.
The longtime pilot was a graduate of Brigham Young University who
started his air travel career with America West Airlines in 1990.
“All of us at American extend our condolences to Mike’s wife, Betty
Jean, and to his entire family. They have lost a husband and father, and
many of you have lost a personal friend,” Parker added. “Taking care of
Mike’s family is our focus now, and I know you’ll join me in keeping
them in your thoughts and prayers.”
His death does not appear to be suspicious, authorities said.
His wife, Betty Jean Johnston, posted to her husband’s Facebook page hours after his sudden death to announce his passing.
“Betty Jean would like everyone (to) know that Mike passed away this
morning doing what he loved most, flying a plane to New York,” she
wrote.
A fellow passenger apparently caught a glimpse of Johnston slumped over
the pilot’s chair through a cockpit window, Anderson told The News.
The Boston native did not see Johnston before takeoff, but recalls a
pilot on the overhead speakers sounding confused when describing weather
conditions in Boston.
Johnston was pronounced dead in the cockpit at 7:13 a.m., shortly after the Syracuse landing.
On a recording from the airport tower, an officer is heard calmly declaring a "medical emergency."
"Captain is incapacitated," he says.
The Airbus A320 plane left Phoenix at 11:55 p.m. Sunday and was due in Boston at 7:30 a.m.
After the crew change, it got to Boston around 12:30 p.m., Anderson added.
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