Off-Duty Pilot Steps in After Jet2 Captain Faints Mid-Flight
Jackie Reddy August 27, 2019
A Jet2 pilot lost consciousness on a flight from Manchester to Funchal, Madeira on Monday. With the captain unable to perform the needed emergency landing into Porto, an off-duty pilot who was traveling as a passenger on the flight stepped in to help. The plane’s pilot received hospital treatment.
The pilot of a Madeira-bound Jet2 plane lost consciousness on a recent flight from Manchester, England, MailOnline reports. The incident occurred on-board Jet2 Flight 765 on Monday.
After the pilot fainted, the outlet reports that an off-duty pilot, who was traveling as a passenger on the flight, was able to make his way into the cockpit and offer assistance to help make an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal.
The plane, which was intended to land in the city of Funchal, touched down in Porto at about 10:20 a.m. local time.
It is reported that the 40-year-old pilot received hospital treatment.
Offering an eyewitness account of the incident, passenger Nicholas Banks told the outlet, “They made the announcement that there had been an incident on the flight deck and another Jet2 pilot who happened to be on holiday came forward from the back of the plane. He offered up his services to the crew and went into the cabin. He didn’t come out until he helped the pilot off the plane when we landed.”
Tweeting on Monday, Jet2 stated, “Flight LS765 from Manchester to Funchal diverted to Porto as a precautionary measure this morning, due to one of the pilots feeling unwell.”
[Featured Image: Youtube/José Rui Aguiar]
