Yes—RIP to the captain.
I was always a white knuckled airline passenger. If all goes well, I will never have to board another one.
Someone once said to me that if it’s your time to go, you will go. I always asked but what if it’s the pilot’s time to go?
Of course that is the reason that each flight has two pilots—and thank goodness they did in this instance.
Back before the airlines flew as full as they do now, odds were there were several more pilots in the back commuting to or from their home to work station.
Harder to do now, so not carrying spares as baggage any more.
Some guys did it daily, some twice a week.