Utah pilot dies; co-pilot lands safely in NY


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SALT LAKE CITY — An American Airlines captain from West Jordan died Monday while flying from Phoenix to Boston.

Identified by his wife as Michael Johnston, 57, the pilot became gravely ill and incapacitated during the flight and later died. Johnston's first officer safely diverted and landed the nearly 150-passenger plane, an airline spokeswoman said.

Passengers on the flight were told the pilot was sick and the plane was making an emergency landing in Syracuse, N.Y.

Johnston's wife, Betty Jean Johnston, remembered him Monday as a loving and ambitious person who had been flying for the same airline for 27 years — all while the company's name had changed twice.

"He loved flying. It's his favorite thing to do," she said. "He liked doing other things, but he loved flying."

Michael Johnston grew up as the second oldest of 14 children, and he and his wife raised eight of their own.

"He loves being around people. He's used to a lot of people around him," Betty Jean Johnston said.

All but one of the pilot's children gathered at the family's West Jordan home to mourn together Monday evening. One daughter was out of the country on business for JetBlue.

"(Michael loved) being with family and friends, and we have taken many trips and spent a lot of time together just enjoying each other as family," his wife said.

Michael Johnston, a BYU graduate, also trained others to become airline pilots and spent 17 years as a singing member of the Salt Lake-based Mountain West Chorale choir.

"Everybody that knows him loves him," Betty Jean Johnston said.

Michael Johnston's death while flying is a scenario that's rare but not unheard-of: Seven pilots for U.S. airlines and one charter pilot have died during flights since 1994, the Federal Aviation Administration says.

American Flight 550 left Phoenix at 11:55 p.m. local time Sunday and was diverted midflight, landing shortly after 7 a.m. EDT, American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said. After Johnston was stricken, the first officer safely took over with 147 passengers and five crew members onboard.

"American 550. Medical emergency. Captain is incapacitated," the first officer calmly told the Syracuse airport tower, requesting a runway to land.

In a recording of his exchange with the tower, he expresses concern whether ambulance medics can get on the plane quickly. He's assured they can and is told to go into a gate where the medics would meet the plane.

"I want to take a moment to thank (Johnston's) crew members on Flight 550. They took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers," American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said in a letter to employees that was later released to the media. "We couldn't be more proud of the teamwork this crew showed during an extremely difficult time. Our airport teams in Syracuse and Boston were also instrumental in assisting our customers, and their handling is also greatly appreciated."


I want to take a moment to thank (Johnston's) crew members on Flight 550. They took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers. We couldn't be more proud of the teamwork this crew showed during an extremely difficult time. Our airport teams in Syracuse and Boston were also instrumental in assisting our customers, and their handling is also greatly appreciated.

–Doug Parker, American Airlines CEO


The airline wouldn't say when the death occurred.

A replacement crew was sent to Syracuse, and the plane, an Airbus A320, landed in Boston at 12:30 p.m.

Aviation experts said there was never any danger to passengers because pilots and co-pilots are equally capable of flying.

Former airline pilot John Cox, an aviation safety consultant, said when one pilot becomes unable to fly the other will rely on help from the plane's automated systems and get priority treatment from air traffic controllers.

"The passengers were not in danger, absolutely not," he said.

Passenger Louise Anderson, who was heading from Reno, Nevada, to Boston via Phoenix, said she had dozed off on the flight.

"What I woke up to was the flight attendant telling us we were making an emergency landing because the pilot was ill," Anderson said.

Rumors of the pilot's death circulated in the Syracuse airport, she said, but were confirmed only by an announcement on their makeup flight to Boston.

Anderson said the mood on board then was somber, but she commended the crew's handling of a tragic situation.

Airline pilots must pass physical exams every 12 months, every six months for captains 40 or older.

Contributing: Brianna Bodily

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Ben Lockhart, The Associated Press

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