US pilot dies during flight
An American Airlines plane had to divert from its route after the pilot fell ill and died onboard the flight.
Fifty-seven-year-old Michael Johnston was piloting the aircraft when he fell ill along the route. It's thought he suffered a heart attack.
The first officer was tasked with bringing the plane down safely in New York State.
Sky News says 147 passengers and five crew members had been on board Airbus A320 from Phoenix to Boston.
Medical authorities say preliminary toxicology tests show that Johnston died from natural causes.
His wife B.J says she can take some comfort from the fact her husband was happy in his last moments.
"He knew that he wanted to be a pilot, that was what he wanted to do. If nothing else, I'm grateful that he was doing what he loved," she said.
These passengers were on the flight when the incident took place.
" We were all [shocked]. We didn't know him but we put our lives in his hands and now he is gone," one passenger said.
"They put tarps up so we couldn't see anything out the window. The cops evacuated everybody away from the windows. When we got off our flight here, four hours later, they notified us that he had passed away," one lady said.
(File photo: Getty Images)