Pilot restrained by crew after mid-air seizure
A PILOT on a passenger plane had to be restrained after suffering a violent seizure at the controls, according to an accident report published yesterday.
The Flybe Bombardier Q400 turbo prop was flying from Inverness to Jersey when the co-pilot suffered two mid-air seizures on August 5 last year.
There were 43 passengers and four crew on board.
During the seizures, the co-pilot made ‘inadvertent rudder inputs’ which caused the autopilot to disconnect.
A passenger and a stewardess had to restrain the co-pilot to keep him under control and prevent him endangering the flight. The flight commander, who was carrying out a monitoring role, managed to control the aircraft.
He was able to divert to Manchester and made a safe landing before the co-pilot was taken to hospital. He was later released.
An Aircraft Accident Report was submitted to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and was published yesterday.
It shows that after failing to get a response from the co-pilot the commander tried to alert crew. The senior cabin crew member (SCCM) went to the cockpit, where she found the co-pilot ‘grey in the face, had blue lips and a rigid body but was still breathing’. An ‘able-bodied passenger’ was selected to lend assistance.
The report concluded: ‘This serious incident was the result of the co-pilot suffering a medical incapacitation which was professionally managed by the aircraft commander. He and the SCCM delivered a safe and successful outcome to what was, potentially, a hazardous incident.’
Flybe chief operating officer Luke Farajallah said last night: ‘Flybe appreciates the findings in the report. All airlines train their crew to be prepared for all possible incidents including, however rare, that of a pilot becoming incapacitated during flight.
‘The report recognises the crew immediately and efficiently implemented the required procedures.’