Plane in US emergency landing after pilot dies

A Continental plane from Brussels to New York made an emergency landing at Newark airport Thursday after the pilot died during the flight, aviation officials told AFP

The Boeing 777 flight, carrying 247 passengers, landed safely around midday 1600 GMT at the New Jersey airport, which is one of the three main airports serving New York City.

"The captain of the flight Continental 61 from Brussels to Newark died during the flight. Two pilots are in control," an official from the Federal Aviation Authority said.

Spokesman Jim Peters said he did not know how the pilot had died, adding the FAA was "providing all the services that are needed."

Continental said in a statement the pilot was 61 years old, based in Newark and had worked for the airline for 21 years.

Continental Airlines, the world's fifth largest airline, flies daily from Brussels to New York-Newark offering connections to more than 230 destinations across the US, Canada, Latin and South America, and the Caribbean.