Captain Johnston News Today

The Tulsa Police Department is rolling out a new camera plan where residents in the city of Tulsa can register their cameras online for the real-time informatio

In the 1930s Australians enthusiastically embraced the aviation industry. With increasing volumes of passengers, freight and mail, airline companies were required to undertake regular night flying and with the installation of lights and beacons Essendon Aerodrome took a significant step towards becoming a modern airport as a vital link in the lighted air route between Adelaide and Brisbane.

>> reporter: terrifying moments on the overnight flight but passengers never knew the pilot, 57-year-old michael johnston, had collapsed in the cockpit. >> they said that the pilot was really sick and that was it. then we saw like ambulances pulling up. >> reporter: four hours into the american airlines flight from phoenix to boston the co-pilot saying only the captain "wasnt feeling well" descended for an emergency landing in syracuse. calm but clearly concerned. >> the ambulance will meet you ...

Facing the rescuers and investigators. >> mark, thank you very much. turning now to new details about the american airlines pilot who died in the cockpit in the middle of a cross-country complete. captain michael johnstons wife tells nbc news he died of a heart attack. he was just 57 years old, the father of eight. and that he would have celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in less than two weeks. this morning passengers are praising the co-pilot saying he saved their lives by staying cal...

Rare for a commercial pilot to die mid flight. only happening six other times in the last two decades. pilots must retire by age 65 and have yearly physicals. johnstons wife says he was required to have exams more frequently after a bypass surgery in 2006. this morning johnstons family, his wife, their eight children and five grandkids are honoring his memory. >> loved everyone that was around him. an amazing father to his children and the best husband i could ever ask for. >> reporter: the head...

Made, then apparently the transponder was deactivated in some fashion. so it could be, of course, just a failure, a single point failure or it could be the result of something catastrophic happening to the aircraft or it could be that it was deliberately turned off. the fact that there was no contact with the next controlling agency and the fact that the aircraft apparently started turning from the primary radar returns indicates that there was something more going on. and it seems to be somethi...