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?

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.

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.

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?

At Continental 777 FO's would have about 10 years minimum with the company and most could hold Capt on some other Eq.

Just watched it land on CNN.com Live. Completely uneventful. Let's see how much mileage the "news" networks get out of this one.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Incapacitation of a required crew member including "death" requires declaration of emergency.

It ain't much help if he stopped breathing hours ago. Pilots would have stated he appears to be dead as they not doctors.

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 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.

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.