An American Airlines pilot has died on board an overnight flight from Phoenix to Boston.
Airline spokeswoman Michelle Mohr told Sky News that Flight 550 was diverted to Syracuse, New York, on Monday morning after the pilot suddenly “became ill”.
The flight’s first officer then requested an emergency landing, telling the control tower in Syracuse: “Captain is incapacitated.”
Sky News understands the pilot was pronounced dead by medical personnel after the plane landed safely at about 7.15am local time.
Details of the medical emergency and the pilot’s identity were not being released until family members were told, Ms Mohr said.
The airline is “incredibly saddened by this event”, she said.
A replacement crew was called in to take the flight and its 147 passengers on to Boston.
