Airline Pilot Dies After Suffering Heart Attack On Seattle-Bound Flight

A United Airlines pilot died after suffering a heart attack while flying to Seattle on Thursday, KOMO TV reported.

The flight that departed from Houston issued an emergency landing in Boise and landed safely at 7 p.m., according to Boise airport spokeswoman Patti Miller.

A passenger on the flight said a crew member made an announcement on the loudspeaker asking if anyone on board was a doctor.

"We got a man down, chest compressions going on right now. I'm not sure too much right now," a crew member said to air traffic controllers. "Can an ambulance and maybe some air stairs meet us on the runway?"

Once the Boeing 737 landed, the pilot was rushed to Saint Alphonsus Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

"I am sad to confirm that our co-worker passed away last night. Our thoughts are with his family at this time," United spokeswoman Christen David said on Friday.

Ken Martin, another passenger, said a first-year medical student sitting next to him volunteered to give the pilot CPR. He added that because the pilot was heavy, they had to move him into the first-class cabin from the cockpit to effectily attempt resuscitation.

He said the medical student went back to her seat, visibily upset, after efforts to revive the pilot were unsuccessful. Throughout the entire incident, Martin said the crew was in complete control of the chaos. Bryant Magill, another passenger, agreed.

"I'm really impressed with all the flight attendants," Magill said. "They kept themselves calm. They kept it professional. There was no panic on the plane."

The Seattle-bound flight had 161 passengers and six crew members onboard and kept them in Boise for hours until the airline found another pilot. Once officials located a pilot to fill the spot, the plane landed in Seattle around midnight.

The name of the deceased pilot has not been released.

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