American Airlines pilot dies after episode on flight

Albuquerque - An American Airlines pilot has died after becoming ill just before his plane landed in Albuquerque.

During the flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, the captain declared an emergency and landed the plane at Albuquerque International airport.

The plane taxied to a gate and was met by paramedics, who were unable to save William "Mike" Grubbs, 58, a Dallas-based co-pilot.

Passengers were apparently unaware of the gravity of the incident during the last minutes of the flight but said the captain told them after landing that they would not be able to exit the plane immediately because of a medical emergency.

There was no immediate word of the cause of death.

Land the plane

Grubbs joined the airlines in 2010 as a pilot of Boeing 737s after flying smaller planes for American Eagle.

The pilots' union said Grubbs lived in Lebanon, Tennessee and said it was offering help to his family. He was married and was the father of a son, who will graduate from college in May.

Pilot deaths during flights are rare. In most cases, the other pilot in the cockpit has been able to land the plane without further incident.

Pilots must pass regular medical exams. In 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration raised the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65 and some have suggested raising it again to help deal with a shortage of pilots.