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BREAKING: AA Flight 550 Diverts, Pilot passes away InFlight
American Airlines red-eye flight 550 from Phoenix, AZ to Boston, MA diverted to Syracuse, NY this morning at 7:11am because one of the pilots passed away InFlight. Initial reports say indicate that the pilot that passed was the Captain on board. We’re hearing that one of the flight attendants crewed to work flight 550 was a nurse, tried, but sadly wasn’t able to save him. We will update this post with more information as we obtain it. (savvystews.com) Altro...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Why divert? Syracuse to boston? Pretty close to begin with. Most flight danger is takeoff and landing. A passenger may miss a loved one's last minutes in some hospital. Anyone have a rational reason for that decision?
Its called a medical emergency in which case you divert to the nearest airport capable of safely handling the aircraft
a "medical emergency" means someone is alive and in need of emergency medical attention. I'm sure that you wouldn't want your loved ones to make an extra landing , WITH THE CO-PILOT (as the pilot is dead) in charge landing at an unfamiliar airport that isn't on their normal route. Those cities are only 200 miles apart, what are we talking about? 15 minutes difference? The pilot is dead, blue, no more, sorry but continue on to the scheduled airport where 150 passengers have 150 families waiting for them at the airport.
What I am reading here is that you were in the cabin with the captain and first officer who, btw, has to be qualified to fly the aircraft as much as the captain (some first officers are captains on other flights). Once the medical emergency was called (the captain was probably receiving CPR at that point) you just cant say to the diverting ATC "oh its ok, hes passed away so we are going to continue on"...a medical emergency is called and u are diverted by ATC, thats it
That sounds like a good Monday Morning Quarterback position. At the time of the incident the outcome was not so clear-cut. You are certainly entitled to your opinion which appears to be that diversion for this particular medical emergency was not warranted. While it did not alter the grim outcome of this incident, I feel the policies for diversions are reasonable.
The people making a big deal out of the FO using 'Cactus'- get over it. The call-sign is like second nature - he went back to old habit while under a great deal of stress. Besides it has only been a few months since the change.