Readers should look toward the end of chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2 for textual evidence regarding this question. Moments after the pilot has his massive heart attack, Brian doesn't react at all. It is as if time stands still because Brian has not yet been able to process exactly what just happened. Brian knew the man was having a heart attack, but Brian doesn't come to a sudden realization that the pilot is dead and that he is in trouble. We are told that for a few moments everything "stopped."

Once Brian's brain begins working again, he is conscious of things around him, but he is also aware that he can't physically motivate his body to do anything. His entire body feels heavy. Next comes what I think is a fairly natural reaction to his situation and the pilot's death. Brian is in denial. He starts coming up with any and every possible solution to explain the pilot's current state. Brian hopes that the pilot is asleep and will suddenly wake up. That doesn't happen, so Brian begins thinking of the possibility of starting CPR; however, that is unrealistic in the confined space. It ends up being a non-starter, as turbulence begins hitting the plane and Brian realizes that he has to fly it.