Flight attendant helps land plane to Chicago

This flight attendant did a little more than ensure trays were upright and locked.

After an American Airlines first officer became ill aboard Flight 1612 from San Francisco Monday night, a female flight attendant took over his cockpit responsibilities while the plane landed at O'Hare International Airport. While the attendant, a certified commercial pilot, did not land the plane, she did help in the cockpit in a support role, authorities at American said.

"I'm sure the crew did an extraordinary job with this situation," American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said.

The Boeing 767 arrived at 4:20 p.m. and the landing proceeded normally with the captain handling the plane's descent, Fagan added.

After the first officer was stricken, the captain asked if anyone was a certified pilot, and the flight attendant volunteered. A first officer's role includes going over a checklist, including ensuring control switches are properly toggled.

"The checklist is done in a question-response situation," Fagan said.

Once the plane landed, paramedics took the first officer to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released, Fagan added.