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Article: Pilot Suffers Fatal Heart Attack Landing Jet;93 Uninjured at Newark as Copilot Takes Controls of DC10
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- November 23, 1987
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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An American Airlines pilot suffered a fatal heart attack while
landing a jumbo jet with 93 other people on board, but the copilot
took the controls and brought the plane safely to a stop, the airline
said today.
Capt. Don L. Ely, 51, was stricken late Saturday night as the
DC10 was landing at Newark International Airport, said American
Airlines spokesman Lee Elsesser.
It was not clear whether copilot Tom Meeker landed the plane or
took the controls when the craft was on the ground.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said
Meeker told airport police that the pilot slumped over the controls
while the plane was about 50 feet above the runway and that Meeker
landed ...