A flight attendant with a pilot’s license ditched her normal duties and stepped in for a sick co-pilot of an American Airlines flight before the plane landed in Chicago, Illinois, airline officials said.

The first officer had become sick with ‘flulike’ symptoms yesterday, according to Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American Airlines. “He went back into the passenger cabin,” he said. “That’s when the captain began to solicit help from any passengers with a pilot’s license.”

One of the five flight attendants on board flight 1612 from San Francisco, California, told the captain that she is a commercial pilot, and she immediately took over the first officer’s responsibilities, Wagner said.

“She called things out, and read through the pre-landing checklist,” he said, adding that it was a very smooth transition.

The plane, carrying 225 passengers and seven crew members, landed safely at O’Hare International Airport, at 4:24 p.m. Monday. No one was hurt.

The first officer, who is based in Chicago, was immediately taken to the hospital by paramedics waiting on the ground. He was treated and released and was resting Tuesday, Wagner said.

“The entire incident was handled very well on all accounts,” Wagner said.” He was not able to elaborate on the flight attendant’s background or provide any details into her piloting experience. The flight attendant is based in San Francisco, the captain in St. Louis, Missouri.

(Source: CNN)