PHOENIX-- An American Airlines flight being operated by U.S. Airways left Phoenix around midnight Monday for Boston when the pilot experienced a medical emergency, forcing the plane to be diverted to Syracuse, New York.

The Airbus 320 was carrying 147 passengers and five crew members aboard Flight 550 at the time. The pilot fell ill somewhere during the flight, forcing the co-pilot to take over the controls.

"Medical emergency, captain is incapacitated," someone in the cockpit told an air traffic controller, according to audio posted to LiveATC.net. "Request handling for runway."

American Airline's website stated that Flight 550 made a rapid descent in Syracuse at 7:13 a.m. ET. The aircraft landed safely there, where firefighters responded to the medical emergency. However, the pilot reportedly died on the plane.

After a new flight crew boarded the aircraft, the vessel continued onward to Boston.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.

Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f

Get top stories delivered to your inbox everyday: http://bit.ly/tomo-newsletter

Stay connected with us here:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomoNewsUS
Twitter @tomonewsus http://www.twitter.com/TomoNewsUS
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+TomoNewsUS/
Instagram @tomonewsus http://instagram.com/tomonewsus