Off-Duty Pilot Steps In to Help Land Plane After Pilot Becomes Incapacitated

An off-duty pilot had to step in and help land an Air Canada domestic flight due to the first officer suffering a medical emergency.

The incident happened on a June 7 flight from Toronto to St. John’s in the Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Pilot Incapacitation – Air Canada Flight ACA692 YYZ-YYT Toronto, ON to St.John's, NL

First Officer became incapacitated on Jun.7, 2023; deadheading Captain assumed duties of first officer! Landed safely

(Article link in photo) @stkirsch @JoshYoder #DiedSuddenly #cdnpoli #ableg pic.twitter.com/KdRBaApgWv

— William Makis MD (@MakisMD) June 16, 2023

https://twitter.com/David83823494/status/1673464103745011713

Reuters reports:

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said the incident occurred on June 7 during a 2,115 km (1,300 mile) flight to St John’s in the Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador from Toronto.

“The first officer became incapacitated during the flight. A deadheading captain assumed the crew member’s duties and landed the aircraft without further incident,” the TSB said in an emailed statement. “Emergency medical services met the aircraft at the gate.”

A deadheading pilot is one who is flying commercially on their way to a new assignment.

The Aviation Herald noted:

An Air Canada Bombardier C-Series CS-300, registration C-GJXY performing flight AC-692 from Toronto,ON to St. John’s,NL (Canada) with 125 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute when the first officer became incapacited. A deadheading captain assumed the duties of the first officer, the aircraft continued to St. John’s for a safe landing about 90 minutes later.

This is the latest in a string of pilot “medical emergencies” to occur since the COVID-19 jab mandates in the airline industry.

Virgin Australia:

“A Virgin Australia flight from Adelaide to Perth was forced to make an emergency landing after the First Officer reportedly suffered a heart attack just 30 minutes after departure.”

“The incident occurred on March 3rd and resulted in the Airbus A320 https://t.co/0mlgR9pH6A… pic.twitter.com/lL13K6PquP

— COVID VACCINE INJURIES (@Storiesofinjury) March 7, 2023

United Airlines:

A United Airlines flight going to Chicago had to make an emergency landing in Houston on Saturday due to the pilot allegedly becoming incapacitated.

“UA Flight 2007 GUA-ORD is diverting to IAH. Declaring an emergency for an incapacitated pilot. Left seat https://t.co/QD97HRtxeR… pic.twitter.com/0JZThgEfVw

— COVID VACCINE INJURIES (@Storiesofinjury) March 14, 2023

Emirates:

Emirates Flight EK205 MXP-JFK from Milan diverted on March.13, 2023 due to pilot illness, returned to Milan for emergency landing – now 4th pilot incident this month! 😳

First Officer fell ill 1.5hr after take-off, plane returned, ambulance was waiting.https://t.co/TUz0AGSaia

— William Makis MD (@MakisMD) March 14, 2023

Southwest Airlines:

I’m being notified by passengers on a Southwest flight departing Las Vegas that the captain became incapacitated soon after takeoff this morning. He was removed from the flight deck and replaced by a non Southwest pilot who was commuting on that flight. This is now the fifth…

— Josh Yoder (@JoshYoder) March 22, 2023

British Airways:

A veteran British Airways pilot collapsed and died of a heart attack shortly before he was due to captain a packed passenger jet.

“It has rocked BA. It doesn’t bear imagining if he had suffered a heart attack at 30,000ft.”https://t.co/0VZsLmbiir pic.twitter.com/AzfAprn7K1

— COVID VACCINE INJURIES (@Storiesofinjury) March 12, 2023

Air Transat:

Air Transat Flight TS739 FDF-YUL service from Fort-de-France to Montreal, Airbus A321-200:

pilot incapacitated in-flight on March 18, 2023

2nd officer was able to take over

6th pilot incident this month!#Diedsuddenly #cdnpoli #ableg @stkirsch https://t.co/7QI8Spkkpb

— William Makis MD (@MakisMD) March 27, 2023

TAROM:

TAROM Flight RO-7673 TSR-HRG service from Timisoara (Romania) to Hurghada (Egypt) diverted:

30 year old pilot had chest pain, tachycardia, then collapsed in-flight on March 25th, 2023

7th pilot incident this month!#Diedsuddenly #cdnpoli @stkirsch https://t.co/pXrzbxB3xr

— William Makis MD (@MakisMD) March 28, 2023

American Airlines:

“Aeromedical guidelines are very strict. We ply our trade based upon our license, which allows us to operate aircraft. But we can’t utilize that license unless we have a valid medical.

We were basically treated as giant guinea pigs.”

-Airline Captain Bob Snow, on @TuckerCarlson pic.twitter.com/YMyJfVVjhq

— US Freedom Flyers (@USFreedomFlyers) February 1, 2023