on trans-Atlantic flight

NEWARK, N.J. – Continental Airlines says a pilot who died in mid-flight was a 61-year-old man with more than 20 years of service to the airline.

Airline spokeswoman Kelly Cripe says the pilot died of natural causes Thursday on Flight 61 from Brussels, Belgium, to Newark, N.J.

She says the flight continued safely with two other pilots at the controls.

Cripe says the Boeing 777 is carrying 247 passengers and is scheduled to land at Newark on time at noon.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman has confirmed that a Continental Airlines pilot has died in mid-flight.

Spokeswoman Arlene Salac says the airline alerted the FAA around 10:30 Thursday morning that Flight 61 from Brussels to Newark was being flown by two co-pilots.

Salac says the plane, a Boeing 777, will receive priority handling when it lands around noon.

that is sad. He died doing what he loved. My brother flies a trans-Atlantic flight as well as trans-Pacific for another airline. they have training if this happens as well as for many other situations.

I feel sad that this is going to be a media circus before the plane even lands...

i'm glad he died doing something he loved. i'm also glad the plane made it safe.

Im glad I dont fly. My kids do though and it scares the hell out of me.

Kat

I've been scared of flying since my dad died in a plane crash. logically I know they say it's safer than driving...but I can't get that into my head

Awwww, how awful!!! Gosh, I wish I could use that logic with smoking. I've seen a few folks die of lung cancer but here I sit with a dang smoke.

It's GOT to be strange continuing a long flight with a freshly deceased body. I mean.... you can't stop and put it someplace, you know. Well, at least he went doing what he likely enjoyed as a living.

I know me too.

I just watched a news clip of this on TV...I had NBC on, I think they actually did a nice job of reporting on this...

I am not even going to watch any cable news where they will disect this into everything about the pilot, his age, the airline, the FAA regulations....blah, blah, blah...