Retirement Age of Pilots | 06/19/2009 9:10 am

Continental Flight 61 Lands Safely After Veteran Pilot Dies Midair

Death of 61-year-old pilot spurs talks about mandatory retirement age.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

A Continental airplane © Shutterstock

A 61-year-old pilot of an international flight reportedly died of an apparent heart attack in midair from Belgium to Newark, NJ, on Thursday night.

Luckily, the plane landed safely and the 247 passengers onboard were unaware of the death during the flight. Continental Airlines Flight 61 made an emergency landing in Newark Liberty Airport after the co-pilots took over the controls. According to a statement released by Continental Airlines, "The crew on this flight included an additional relief pilot who took the place of the deceased pilot. The flight continued safely with two pilots at the controls."

"All we heard was a doctor was needed onboard the plane," Rich Eskew of Staten Island told PIX News, reports the Chicago Tribune. "The doctor went to the front of the plane and that’s all we heard. It was a very professional crew. Everything was very calm."

Officials have not released the pilot’s name but they say that he had 21 years of experience with Continental. The pilot’s family has been notified. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

The tragic death has also provoked conversations about the mandatory retirement age of pilots. Before 2007, the retirement age was 60. Today, the retirement age is 65. Such discussions were also brought to the forefront following 57-year-old Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger’s remarkable landing of US Airways Flight 1549 safely in the Hudson River in January.

At the core of the ongoing debate is whether experience trumps age. What do you think?

Click here to view the FAA explanation of the updated mandatory retirement age. (PDF)

16 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Well I think it has been shown that anyone at any age can have a heart attack…Most planes fly themselves for the most part…My prayers go out to this Pilot’s family but at least this Pilot died doing what he apparently loved. I am glad the crew stayed calm to keep the passengers calm.

By C Hardy on 06/19/2009 9:41 am

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I agree C Hardy…anyone can have a heart attack, at any age….There are other crew members present that can land a plane.

Beware America, this is just one instance of where older citizens will be considered dispensable. Our country already deems unborn infants as undeserving of personal rights….with Nationalized Health Care…the elderly will be the next victims of the government culling of the "unfit".

It has already begun….

By Kelly In Texas on 06/19/2009 10:43 am

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What rubbish. This story has absolutely nothing to do with anti-choice nor is it indicative of some conspiracy against the elderly.

By the way, only a few weeks ago the country was celebrating another veteran pilot who safely landed his plane on the Hudson River. His many years of experience was being hailed for being responsible for the landing.

By DeBúrca obj on 06/19/2009 5:21 pm

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I’m with you on this one. I’m not saying there is no such thing as discrimination against seniors. But I think it’s a bit of a leap to apply it in any way to this story. It just, unfortunately, happened. People in their 30s and 40s have heart attacks, too. You make a good point about the pilot who landed the plane on the Hudson River also.

By Deena B. on 06/20/2009 12:38 pm

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Rubbish? you betcha, De. More unfounded republican paranoia.

By f p on 06/21/2009 1:53 pm

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Pilot Craig Lennell was 60 years old, and had been in good health. The Federal Aviation Administration requires pilots under 40 to pass a yearly physical which includes an electrocardiogram. Pilots over 40 are tested every 6 months. Pilot Lennel just passed his test last March.

Flights longer than 8 hours require a backup pilot. On flights longer than 12, there are two. Regardless of the number of air hours, there should always be another pilot. Pilot Lennel apparently suffered a massive heart attack. Imagine the horror if he had been a solo pilot. The other two pilots said that at first, they thought he had suddenly fallen asleep.

The crew handled this beautifully. Even those in the front seats near the cabin door had no idea of what had happened. It must have been difficult for that crew to go about their business in a cheerful manner.

By Maggie W on 06/19/2009 10:25 am

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For me, experience trumps age….all you have to do is think about the 50+ people who died at the hands of a pilot who lack appropriate skills AND his inexperienced co-pilot.

By MK P on 06/19/2009 10:31 am

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My thoughts are that experience trumps for sure. Anyone can have a heart attack and as long as physcials are maintained I see no reason that 65 be the cut off. I have a 67 year old husband who is a dinosour in his field and yet he brings so much experience to the job and mentors many young people. I know that flying a plane and having people you are responsible for a little differnt but maybe stats need to be looked at. Having an extra pilot on hand for extra long flights should be mandatory and thank goodness they were ther. My heart goes out to the family.

By Barbara B on 06/19/2009 10:32 am

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What a miracle! I’m so glad the airplane’s crew handled everything the way that they did.

By Kristy B on 06/19/2009 10:42 am

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One of my friends an actor, song composer and painist died while perfoming on stage in a play in Italy. The Italian press ran articles and announcements over radio and tv. He was well into his seventies. JIMMY JUSTICE my friend would have loved all the attention and drama.We have found peace and celebrate him knowing he died doing something he loved!

By L. C. on 06/19/2009 10:55 am

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I’ve seen 90-year-olds (http://www.radiohof.org/sportscasters/ernieharwell.html) with more cognitive ability than 20-year-olds.

By James the Game on 06/19/2009 1:08 pm

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Heart attacks know no age. Luckily calm prevailed and everyone is safe. I feel sad for his families loss.

By S G on 06/19/2009 1:28 pm

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WOWOWOW: check your information, particularly the numbers.

He had 32 years of experience with Continental, not 21 years.

He was 60 years old, not 61.

It was flight 61 - you got that right.

By Andrea Brandon on 06/19/2009 8:28 pm

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I would infinitely prefer a pilot with infinite experience rather than someone who isn’t expected to die for decades.

Think Sullenberger.

By Andrea Brandon on 06/19/2009 8:30 pm

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Who exactly is debating the mandatory retirement age? I’ll take experience over youth, too. Like James, I knew a 90 year old who could think circles around me. Of course reflexes are another thing. But 60 is hardly "old".

By Deena B. on 06/20/2009 12:47 pm