Pilot falls ill, dies after takeoff
The pilot of a Continental Airlines flight became ill after takeoff and was pronounced dead after the plane made an emergency landing Saturday, a company spokeswoman said.
The 210 passengers on the flight, which departed from Houston, were never in danger and the co-pilot landed the plane safely, Continental spokeswoman Macky Osorio said.
The airline said only that the pilot suffered a “serious medical problem.” Continental believes the pilot died of natural causes, Osorio said. The pilot’s name was not released.
The flight, bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, took off from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.