Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Rumours & News
Reload this Page >

Continental 61 Captain dies en route

Wikiposts
Search
Rumours & News Reporting Points that may affect our jobs or lives as professional pilots. Also, items that may be of interest to professional pilots.

Continental 61 Captain dies en route

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:15
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canada/Ireland
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Continental 61 Captain dies en route

Continental flight 61 en route from Belgium to Newark, Captain passes away during flight, FAA reports. Two first officers onboard. Declared emergency and will be expected to land at approx 11.45 EST to noon. Any further information?
Ricky1 is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:32
  #2 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canada/Ireland
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not that I think there would be anything to worry about, however unnerving it would be in real life. Here are the details of the flight.

COA61 - Boeing 777-200
Brussels Natl EBBR - Newark Liberty Intl KEWR
Status En Route (3614 miles down; 88 miles to go)
247 onboard

Continental states that Captain died of natural causes, aged 61.
Ricky1 is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:40
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pretty far away
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Continental states that Captain died of natural causes, aged 61. Rip
Now, what about retirement at 65 and all the rubbish I read about being fitter at....than 32 ???
This is one for books and certainly food for thoughts.
Me Myself is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:41
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: US
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So if there are two FOs on the plane - both of which are (allegedly?) qualified to fly it in all phases of flight - why declare an emergency? Would the pax be told?
BobT is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:44
  #5 (permalink)  
Everything is under control.
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Port Authority says the co-pilot took control of the plane, along with a passenger who is a pilot.
090618_pilot_dies_during_flight_to_newark
Eboy is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:52
  #6 (permalink)  
Longtimelurker
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: killington Vt
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
At Continental 777 FO's would have about 10 years minimum with the company and most could hold Capt on some other Eq.
filejw is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:53
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: North America
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just watched it land on CNN.com Live. Completely uneventful. Let's see how much mileage the "news" networks get out of this one.
rsavion is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:55
  #8 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canada/Ireland
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Flight has landed safely in Newark. No surprises.

I guess this will all be food for thought with the change last year in the mandatory retirement age increase from 60 to 65.
Ricky1 is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:56
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No Big deal from a safety point of view

Started with 3 qualified pilots, sadly only landed with 2.

Looking at the WX on the TV, you would have suspected that this would have been an autoland anyway.
gordonroxburgh is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 15:58
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: South West
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Yes, a non-event, but:

Would I be happy if the captain died and I had to land the aeroplane? No.
Could I do it? Yes
Would I do it? Yes
Would I have checked if any other crew were on board before calling on cabin crew to read checklist etc? Yes
Would I have declared an emergency? Hell, yes.
Troy McClure is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:05
  #11 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canada/Ireland
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ghost, continental has stated they have called the pilots family already. Its horrible to have it plastered on the news like this I agree. Just situations like this are hard keep on the DL. Thoughts are with his family.
Ricky1 is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:13
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Europe
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The reason they declare an emergency is that it is SOP, but also to get the poor chap medical aid ASAP. Very distressing for everyone.
Oleo is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:25
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: denver
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Both the co-pilots are ATP rated and Type rated in the B-777.
If you lose an engine or other crucial aircraft component a n emergency is declared. A Captain seems that important...
No disrespect.
Also it moves you to the head of the line in case he could be saved.
bluto is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:26
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 40
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
De ja vu? The following 2007 incident also stated "natural causes" as the cause of death.

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/2...ilot-dies.html
Bobman84 is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:30
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Incapacitation of a required crew member including "death" requires declaration of emergency.
habubauza is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:31
  #16 (permalink)  
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 1998
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It is highly unlikely that the bereaved will peruse these pages.
If you want to express your sympathies in a way that matters, please mail Continental and ask to be included in the condolence register.

Expressing sympathies here is mawkish, states the extremely obvious and only serves to make yourself feel good.

Don't do it.
Thank you.
flapsforty is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:33
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Exit stage right.
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
The reason they declare an emergency is that it is SOP, but also to get the poor chap medical aid ASAP.
It ain't much help if he stopped breathing hours ago. Pilots would have stated he appears to be dead as they not doctors.
racedo is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:36
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: At Home
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not entirely true about the FO's having ten years with CO. During their last hiring push from 2005-2008 they had some newhires(very few) go to the 777. I personally know one.
I'mbatman is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:43
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 3,982
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I hardly think this is a reason for keeping the retirement age at 60!

Who knows what the cause of death is until there is a post mortem?

There have been cases over the years of pilots dieing whilst on duty at ages below 60 years.

It took the Trident accident at Staines in 1972 before incapacitation training become mandatory in the UK.
fireflybob is offline  
Old 18th Jun 2009, 16:47
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: long island
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Between this sad event, their connection [however tenuous] with Colgan, and their unfortunate 'misplacing' of two young children in separate events earlier this week, their legal department may be enjoying a feeling of at least some temporary job security.
finfly1 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.