Washington - A Continental airlines pilot who died at the controls of a plane en route from Brussels to Newark, New Jersey may have suffered a heart attack, The New York Times reported Friday.

The death of Craig Alan Lenell, 60, on Thursday came as a shock to his family, because he had no history of health problems, according to his wife.

The Boeing 777 was landed safely by the two first officers who had extensive experience flying the plane. It was carrying 247 passengers on board in Newark.

Local news reports from Houston identified the pilot and said he once lived in Houston but had more recently been living on a farm in Flynn, Texas.

When Lenell slumped over suddenly in mid flight, crew called for help and five doctors came forward, the Times reported. The only one who could enter the small cockpit was cardiologist Julien Struyven, who could not revive him. Struyven, of Belgium said Lenell appeared to have suffered a heart attack.

Lenell's wife, Lynda, told KHOU-TV in Houston that her husband "was in perfect health" and did not have any known heart problems.

As a captain, Lenell was required to have a physical exam every six months, and was due for his next one in September, the Times reported.

Lenell said her husband had missed only one flight in his 32 years flying for Continental, when his appendix burst in 2007.

"He died doing what made him happiest," Lenell said.

Until 2007, US aviation rules forced pilots to retire at age 60. Under legislation adopted that year, pilots over age 60 may be in command of international flights as long as they are paired with a copilot who is younger than 60.(dpa)