USA Today’s Today in the Sky blog reported on an American Airlines flight attendant who stepped in as a First Officer on a 767 flight when the regular First Officer was suddenly afflicted with severe stomach flu-like symptoms.  You can read the story HERE.

According to American Airlines, protocol is to search for off-duty AA pilots first and then the next best alternative.  Flight attendant Patti DeLuna (61) was qualified as a commercial pilot some time ago and while her pilot’s license wasn’t current, she was able to help fill in for the ill first officer.  The plane landed without incident.

American points out that it is perfectly possible to land the 767 with one pilot and I’m sure that Ms. Fagan helped the captain of the flight with his checklists and monitored speed and altitude during the landing.   American Flight 1612 was flying from San Francisco to Chicago on Monday, June 14th.

It really is just like something out of the movies.

Filed under: Airline News, Trivia by ajax