Czech Airlines pilot dies during Prague-bound flight

2012-02-16 11:27:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (BNO NEWS) -- A Czech Airlines passenger plane made an emergency landing in Prague on Wednesday after the captain collapsed and died during a flight from Poland, the airline said. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Czech Airlines flight 777, which is also marketed as Korean Air flight 7664, was on a regular route from Warsaw to Prague when the captain suddenly collapsed. "[The aircraft] had to be assisted by an ambulance service because of indisposition of a member of cockpit crew," said Hana Hejsková, a spokeswoman for Czech Airlines. "Rescue of the captain's life unfortunately failed."

The plane, an ATR 42 aircraft, was carrying 46 passengers when it landed at Prague RuzynÄ› International Airport at approximately 12:02 p.m. local time. "Safety of the passengers wasn't threatened. The flight was fully under control of the second pilot and landed smoothly without any problems," the spokeswoman said.

Hejsková provided few details about the incident, but said the cause of death is still being investigated. "It is an untold tragedy, we all feel deep sorrow and express condolences to the captain's relatives," she said. "All Czech Airlines pilots are repeatedly trained also for this kind of non-standard situation. We are expressing big thanks to all crew from [the] OK 777 flight for [the] very professional and above-standard managing of this situation."

Czech Airlines, the national airline of the Czech Republic, said it would not release the identity of the captain.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-02-16

My condolences to the friends, family and colleagues of the pilot.

I have an aunt who was always afraid of flying. We used to tell her that when it's your time to go, you'll go. She replied "Yes, but when it's the pilot's time to go, I don't want to go with him."

I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming like the passengers on the plane he was piloting.