Pilot who became incapacitated during U.S. flight dies

Article content

An Envoy Air pilot who became incapacitated during a flight shortly after takeoff from Chicago last week has died.

“Despite heroic efforts by those on board and first responders on the ground, our colleague passed away at the hospital,” Envoy Air said in a statement Tuesday.

Article content

The pilot was a captain in training aboard the flight that had departed from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport heading to Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 19, according to a CNBC report.

Envoy Air, a regional carrier owned by American Airlines, did not disclose the cause of the medical emergency.

A recording of messages to air traffic controllers from LiveATC.com indicated a pilot who flying as first officer had told air traffic control that the “captain is incapacitated” just 37 minutes after takeoff.

Article content

The flight was given clearance to return to O’Hare.

Commercial flights are required to have a minimum of two pilots.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.