Happening now..Continental Pilot dies inflight to Newark..Passenger helping fly plane

[jkwest]

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A Continental Airlines flight from Brussels will be making an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport after the plane's captain died mid-flight Thursday morning, CBS 2 has learned.

Federal Aviation Administration officials say Continental Flight 61, a Boeing 777 with 247 passengers on board, will land at Newark at noon. Newark was the flight's final destination. It left Brussels at 9:45 a.m., and the airline alerted the FAA around 10:30.

Continental officials tell CBS 2 the 61-year-old pilot died of natural causes. His identity has not yet been released, but officials say he worked for the company for 21 years and was based out of Newark.

"The company has been in touch with his family and we extend our deepest sympathies," the airline said in a statement.

Officials say there are two first officers on the flight and a reserve crew as well. One of the first officers is piloting the plane.

Emergency medical service units are on the scene at Newark.

The Boeing 777 is the world's largest twinjet and can carry nearly 400 passengers on it.