loading…
A Southwest Airlines pilot captain suddenly fainted in the middle of a flight. Luckily, a passenger who also works as a pilot took control of the plane until it landed safely. Photo/REUTERS/Mike Blake
LAS VEGAS – A pilot captain flight The United States (US) suddenly fell ill and fainted while the plane was still in the air. Luckily, a passenger who works as a pilot from another airline took control and managed to land the plane safely.
The incident occurred on Southwest Airlines flight 6013 while flying Las Vegas to Columbus in Ohio last Wednesday.
“The flight landed safely, and an alternate crew operated the flight to CMH (Columbus),” Southwest Airlines said in a statement.
The flight returned to Las Vegas two hours after takeoff.
“We commend the crew for their professionalism and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding regarding this situation,” the airline continued, as quoted by The Independent, Friday (24/3/2023).
In radio traffic archived by the LiveATC website, one can be heard saying that the captain started having stomach pains and then passed out or became incapacitated about five minutes later.
The person said the captain “come back” about 60 seconds later and was being treated at the rear of the plane.
“We have to get him to the ambulance immediately,” the man said.
Las Vegas resident Diane McGlinchey, who was on the flight with her husband, told NBC News she didn’t notice any panic when crew members initially went into the plane’s public announcements system to ask if there were any medics on board.
