Pilot dies mid-flight: Continental Airlines flight makes emerge...

Captain Craig Lenell has "Gone West." He lived a life that others can only dream about. In the words of Ernest K Gann, "So long, you ancient pelican."

Are we done being drama queens now? The plane was never in any danger with two other pilots.

Free Speaker wrote:

Are we done being drama queens now? The plane was never in any danger with two other pilots.

No, it has just begun. The media loves to sensationalize these types of things. The reason is simply numbers. Less than 1/3 of 1% of the U.S. population is made up of pilots. That means there is a very small base to speak out against, and shed light on situations like this. Most people will read this, and say, "Thank GOd there was another pilot who happened to be on board this plane, or all those people would have died." It is blowing something out of proportion that they know nothing about, generally.

Mo one knew until AFTER landing? Damn, he was good!

Evidence that sleep and death are similar.

The media's job is now to inform and scare the flying public. Please tell us what would have happened if there was no co-pilot?

Where would the autopilot have flown the plane?

Why not train the flight attendants to land the aircraft?

Was there a US Marshal on board? If yes, could he have taken over the controls?

Shhhh don't wake the pilot, he just fell asleep. LMAO.

Sowhat asks

"Why not train flight attendants to fly the plane"

Hey let's do that in all professions.

Why not train nurses to perform brain surgery?

Why not train court reporters to hear and decide on law cases?

Why not train diswashers to manage a multi million dollar gourmet restaurant.

Why not train the receptionist to perform root canals?

Please read up a bit on what it takes to manually land a jet of that size and consider that if a flight attendant wanted to learn to do it...they would and they would be a pilot. The pay is A LOT better.

What concerns me is why the co-pilot or anyone else would feel that it was appropriate for the pilot (or any other essential crew member) to be napping on the job! Hello - the guy was supposed to be flying the plane! I realize technology today is very advanced, what with autopilot, etc.- but technology, when hundreds of lives are at stake, needs to be monitored by humans, hence a PILOT being on board... His crew who thought he was sleeping and did not bother to WAKE HIM UP (or try to...) should be FIRED for stupidity if nothing else. For the love of God they might have been able to save the man had someone noticed him "nod" off... or where they ALL sleeping on the job??

Oh, he was in perfect health? Uh, maybe not.

He got physicals twice a year? Ok, so much for preventative care.

RIP Captain.

now THAT is FUNNY! we just thought he was asleep! LOLOLOL! wouldn't that STILL be cause for concern. or did they not want to disturb his sleep?

InCSprings wrote:

Oh, he was in perfect health? Uh, maybe not.
He got physicals twice a year? Ok, so much for preventative care.
RIP Captain.

ya, you're right. no one should ever get a check up again, because of this story lol

concerned flyer wrote:

What concerns me is why the co-pilot or anyone else would feel that it was appropriate for the pilot (or any other essential crew member) to be napping on the job! Hello - the guy was supposed to be flying the plane! I realize technology today is very advanced, what with autopilot, etc.- but technology, when hundreds of lives are at stake, needs to be monitored by humans, hence a PILOT being on board... His crew who thought he was sleeping and did not bother to WAKE HIM UP (or try to...) should be FIRED for stupidity if nothing else. For the love of God they might have been able to save the man had someone noticed him "nod" off... or where they ALL sleeping on the job??

Take it from a pilot who has flown many long flights. The pilots are divided into two classes when flying: Pilot flying-pf and the pilot not flying or pilot monitoring pnf/pm. When the pf does all the work, the pnf runs checklists or the radios. In cruise flight, there is not a whole lot to do. So naturally, if you are bored, and if you are tired, you might fall asleep. They are not supposed to, thats the whole point of a relief pilot. But they sometimes do. ITs not the end of the world. There is still a capable pilot flying/monitoring what is going on. And in a emergency, with lots of bells and whistles going off, anyone who is sleeping anywhere near the cockpit will be woken up in a hurry with all the noise.

Unfortunately, sometimes the first symptom of heart disease is death.

Condolences to the family. RIP

dirt nap - RIP

If we could all be so lucky, to go to the great beyond doing what we love to do and doing it so well for so long.

I hope he rots in HELL since he was a SCAB hired in 83 at the age of 35. Came straight from the Air Farce and STOLE a man's job while he was walking a picket line. Craig Lenell was not a good man. He was only out for himself and used every dirty trick in the book to promote his career at the expense of others. I also hope that he felt excruciating pain when he expired.
The only good SCAB is a dead SCAB.

Dr Midnight Express wrote:

dirt nap - RIP

Dirt nap luckly not yard dart.

Olga Fugyesev wrote:

I hope he rots in HELL since he was a SCAB hired in 83 at the age of 35. Came straight from the Air Farce and STOLE a man's job while he was walking a picket line. Craig Lenell was not a good man. He was only out for himself and used every dirty trick in the book to promote his career at the expense of others. I also hope that he felt excruciating pain when he expired.
The only good SCAB is a dead SCAB.

Gee a**hole. Tell us how you really feel. Maybe he "scabbed" because Continental got sick and tired of you "union types" and basically holding them hostage and sucking them dry over money and benefit issues. It's because of people like you, and not the good captain, that Continental, like alot of other airlines are in the dire straits they are in today. If you want to fly, go do a kamikazee mission. Trust me. You'd be doing the rest of us a favor. Captain Lendell will be missed. You sir most definitely wouldn't be!!

Shanghailil wrote:

<quoted text>
Gee **** hole. Tell us how you really feel. Maybe he "scabbed" because Continental got sick and tired of you "union types" and basically holding them hostage and sucking them dry over money and benefit issues. It's because of people like you, and not the good captain, that Continental, like alot of other airlines are in the dire straits they are in today. If you want to fly, go do a kamikazee mission. Trust me. You'd be doing the rest of us a favor. Captain Lendell will be missed. You sir most definitely wouldn't be!!

No union member has ever been directly responsible for the demise of any corporation. I hope for the same fate on you as Mr. Lendell. Shanghailil = SCAB lover.

ImKate wrote:

Unfortunately, sometimes the first symptom of heart disease is death.
Condolences to the family. RIP

i can feel it in my chest. i'm finished.