United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has heart attack and is in the hospital

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United said Friday recently named CEO Oscar Munoz was taken to hospital
Reportedly suffered the mild heart attack on Thursday while in Chicago
Had called meeting of United's union leaders Thursday, but it didn't happen
Ex-CSX Corp executive named to replace ex-CEO Jeff Smisek last month
Company is waiting to hear about severity before looking at interim leader
United's shares down 3.4 per cent and have fell 17 per cent already in 2015

By Dailymail.com Reporter and Associated Press and Reuters

Published: 13:18 EST, 16 October 2015 | Updated: 00:26 EST, 17 October 2015

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United Continental Holdings Inc said Friday its recently named chief executive, Oscar Munoz, had been hospitalized and it has been widely reported that the airline CEO suffered a heart attack.

The 56-year-old's health issues are the latest setback for the No 2 US airline in terms of seat capacity, which last month named the ex-CSX Corp executive to replace former CEO Jeff Smisek.

United's shares were down $1.96, or 3.4 per cent, to $55.80 in afternoon trading and they have already dropped nearly 17 per cent so far this year.

United Continental CEO Oscar Munoz, 56, was admitted to the hospital, reportedly after suffering a heart attack

United's shares fell $1.96, or 3.4 per cent, to $55.80 at one point during afternoon trading before rebounding

United Continental has been beset by complaints by customers and employees in recent years (stock photo)

Munoz suffered the mild heart attack on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in Chicago to receive treatment, but he could be back at work in two weeks, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In a statement on Friday, the airline said: 'We have been informed by Oscar's family that he was admitted to the hospital on Thursday and we will provide further details as appropriate.

'In the meantime, we are continuing to operate normally.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we are respecting their privacy.'

The company's board is waiting to hear about the severity of the heart attack before deciding if an interim leader is necessary.

United Continental has been beset by complaints from customers and employees in recent years, and Munoz has made tackling them a top priority.

Munoz has apologized to customers for problems that have plagued United since the company merger in 2010

Shortly after taking over, Munoz told the company's employees in a letter that he would meet with as many workers as possible and 'hear about operations directly from you'.

He had called a meeting of United's union leaders for Thursday, but a United spokeswoman said those talks did not take place.

Munoz was a railroad executive who had spent 11 years on the boards of Continental Airlines and United Continental.

Former CEO Jeff Smisek stepped down amid investigations surrounding United's dealings with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

In a newspaper ad this month, Munoz apologized to customers for problems that have plagued United since the merger, including several technology outages that have caused large-scale flight delays and cancellations.

United's on-time performance has trailed its three biggest peers - American, Delta and Southwest - so far this year.

In the ad, Munoz said United had failed to live up to its promises and vowed, 'That's going to change.'

He has offered few details, however.

On a conference call with Wall Street analysts last month, Munoz said United must convince customers it will improve customer service but added, 'That is going to take a lot of time and effort.'

Since then, he has been meeting with some of United's 85,000 workers around the country.

While United was slower to return to profitability after the financial crisis that began in 2008, it has posted record profits recently, helped by cheaper jet fuel.

The Chicago company earned $1.7billion in the first six months of 2015, although revenue slipped 2.6 per cent.

The company's former CEO, Smisek, had stepped down amid investigations surrounding United's dealings with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The airline had also struggled under his leadership to merge the operations of the former United and Continental airlines after they joined together in 2010.

Federal prosecutors are investigating United's ties to David Samson, the former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a political ally of New Jersey Gov Chris Christie.