CHICAGO, Oct. 16 (UPI) — A little more than a month after he assumed the post, the chief executive of United Airlines was hospitalized after a heart attack Thursday, according to the airline and news reports.
Oscar Munoz was taken to a Chicago hospital, where he remained Friday.
“We will provide further details as appropriate,” United said in a statement. “In the meantime, we are continuing to operate normally.”
The extent of the heart attack was not initially clear and the airline is not yet certain whether an interim leader is needed, a source familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal.
“It could be a mild heart attack, and he could be back in two weeks,” the source said.
Munoz, 56, was named CEO of United Continental Holdings Inc. on Sept. 8 after the sudden ouster of CEO Jeff Smisek.
The Journal report said Munoz was preparing to host his first quarterly earnings call on Oct. 22.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we are respecting their privacy,” the airline added.
United is the world’s second largest airline in terms of traffic.
