On Sept 26, a United Airlines Boeing 737-924ER (WL), flight 1603, was en route from Houston to Seattle with 161 passengers and six crew when the pilot suffered a heart attack.
The first officer took over and diverted Flight 1603 to Boise, Idaho. A doctor and military personnel aboard the plane performed CPR on the Captain in First Class.
A pilot/trainer who was a passenger took the copilot seat as the co-pilot took the captain’s seat and made the safe landing in Idaho.
Capt. Henry Skillern, 63, was taken to Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Boise where he he died.
United flew in a pilot from San Francisco and then Flight 1603 continued to Seattle.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ-37 had to return and make an emergency landing in Los Angeles, California, on November 3rd.
Spirit Airlines flight NK-866 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Lubbock, Texas, on January 4th.
