All 147 passengers on American Airlines flight 550 are unharmed after the pilot died mid-flight earlier today The copilot landed the plane without incident, according to Fox News.
The plane was traveling from Phoenix to Boston, but had to be diverted to Syracuse. "American 550. Medical emergency. Captain is incapacitated," the first officer said to the airport tower. The plane was met by medics when it arrived in Syracuse.
A new American Airlines flight crew came from Philadelphia to meet the passengers who were diverted to Syracuse. All of them have now arrived in Boston, said a spokesperson for American. "Our thoughts are definitely with the crew member's friends and family.... That is our primary concern at this point, making sure they are taken care of," said spokesperson Andrea Huguely, reported Fox News.
The airline will release more details about the pilot's identity and the medical emergency once the family has been informed.
"Unfortunately, our pilot passed away. We are incredibly saddened by this event, and we are focused on caring for our pilot's family and colleagues," said an American Airlines spokesperson, according to the Guardian.
It is very rare for pilots or crew members to suffer serious health complications during a flight, according to the Wall Street Journal. Federal Aviation Administration records show that seven pilots have died in flight since 1994.
