American Airlines pilot dies, during flight

SYRACUSE, N.Y. —  The Syracuse Post-Standard reports, a plane with 152 aboard and headed for Boston was diverted safely to Syracuse, New York, Monday morning after a pilot became ill and died.

American Airlines officials say there were 147 passengers and five crew members on the Airbus A320. A replacement crew  headed to Syracuse to take passengers to Boston.

“The Boston Globe posted an audiotape of the crew reporting a medical emergency to air traffic controllers.

American Airlines Flight 550 took off from Phoenix, Arizona and made an emergency landing at Syracuse Hancock International Airport at 7:13 a.m. after the pilot became ill.

According to CNN:

Captain Michael Johnston, 57, was piloting the plane when he fell ill somewhere en route. The co-pilot landed the jet safely.

Crew members “took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers,” airline CEO Doug Parker said in a statement sent to employees.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork this crew showed during an extremely difficult time.”