The immediate cause of the pilot’s death could not be confirmed. His name was not disclosed. Fortunately, but required by commercial aviation rules, the captain and first officer are each capable of flying commercial airliners alone. The Federal Aviation Administration requires also two crew members in the cockpit at all times for just such an emergency. The co-pilot in this flight appeared calm during the entire incident. The Flight 550 spent about four hours on the ground in Syracuse and then continued on to Boston. The crew was replaced. “We are incredibly saddened by this event, and we are focused on caring for our pilot’s family and colleagues,” American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said.
