“Medical emergency, captain is incapacitated,” someone in the cockpit for American Airlines Flight 550 from Phoenix to Boston told an air traffic controller. “Request handling for runway.” En route to Boston, the pilot fell ill, and unfortunately succumbed to his illness, which caused the place to be diverted to Syracuse in upstate New York.

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Flight 550 held 147 passengers and five crew members; while everyone remained calmed, it was evident that something was not right.

Those on board knew something was wrong when a woman’s “quivering” voice came over the intercom, alerting them the pilot was sick, passenger Peter McSwiggin told WCVB. Flight 550 then made a rapid descent, arriving in Syracuse at 7:13 a.m. ET, according to American’s website.

Thankfully, the co-pilot thought on his feet. “If it wasn’t for the co-pilot using a cool head,” said passenger Peter McSwiggin, “it might have been more disastrous.”

It has not been specified as to what the pilot died from, but we’re guessing health issues. “Whatever happened in the cockpit, none of us will know,” passenger Frank Cacciola told CNN affiliate WCVB.

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SOURCE: CNN