A pilot had a heart attack in the middle of a flight leading to an emergency landing.
The United Airlines flight heading to Seattle from Houston had to stop in Boise airport because the 300-pound captain suffered a fatal heart attack. Luckily an off-duty pilot stepped in to help land the flight while passengers and a doctors helped perform CPR to try to save the pilot's life, the Daily Mail reports.
The pilot was still alive when he was transported to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center but he lost his battle while undergoing treatment.
Ken Martin, a passenger on the flight said that a first-year resident doctor who was sitting next to him was the one who volunteered to perform CPR. The pilot appeared to be very heavy. He was taken into the first class cabin so the doctor could perform CPR.
Despite the hectic event, passengers say the flight attendants acted calm.
"I'm really impressed with all the flight attendants," passenger Bryant Magill told KOMO. "They kept themselves calm. They kept it professional. There was no panic on the plane."
The name of the pilot has not been revealed but the airline did confirm the passing.
"I am sad to confirm that our co-worker passed away last night. Our thoughts are with his family at this time," spokeswoman Christen David said.
Pilots must get medical certificates showing that they don't have any major heart problems according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It is not clear what state the pilot's health was in.
The flight contained 161 passengers and six crew members. It continued on to Seattle from Boise shortly before midnight.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
