Passenger jet lands safely at Newark Airport after pilot dies

June 18, 2009A Boeing 777 operated by Continental Airlines managed to safely land at Liberty Airport in Newark, New Jersey, today after the pilot died from natural causes en route, reports from officials say.

The flight had departed from Belgium, and safely landed at 11:49 A.M. Eastern Time.

"The captain of Continental Flight 61, which was en route from Brussels to Newark, died in flight, apparently of natural causes," said a spokeswoman for the airline in an email.

According to the airline, there was an additional relief pilot on board who took over control of the plane after the initial pilot died.

247 people were on board. There are no reports of any injuries.