Pilot has fatal mid-air heart attack, plane makes emergency landing

GlobalPost

A pilot suffered a heart attack while flying and later died at a hospital after making an emergency landing in Boise, Idaho.

The plane was flying from Houston to Seattle on Thursday evening when it was diverted to Boise for medical reasons.

Paramedics met the plane when it arrived shortly after 8pm local time and the pilot was rushed to the hospital.

The pilot was alive when the plane landed but died later that night during treatment at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, spokeswoman Jennifer Krajnik told The Associated Press on Friday.

The airline did not release the pilots name or his cause of death.

"I am sad to confirm that our co-worker passed away last night. Our thoughts are with his family at this time," spokeswoman Christen David said in an email.

Passenger Ken Martin told KOMO News that a woman sitting next to him, who said she was a first year resident doctor, volunteered to help perform CPR.

She told Martin the pilot was heavy and likely weighted more than 300 pounds.

The 161 passengers and six crew members aboard United flight 1603 remained in Boise for several hours before being put on another flight to Seattle.

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