A plane whose capitan died in mid-flight has landed safely at Newark airport in the US state of New Jersey.

Continental Airlines Flight 61 is seen at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. [Daniel Barry/AFP/Getty Images]

The US Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Continental Airlines Flight 61 landed at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday.

The airline said the 60-year-old capitan pilot died of natural causes on the flight from Brussels, Belgium.

The flight continued safely with two additional relief pilots at the controls.

The Boeing 777 carried 247 passengers. Continental said the dead pilot had 32 years of service to the airline.

(CCTV June 19, 2009)