Flight fright as pilot falls ill in cockpit

Reporter HOLIDAYMAKERS have told of their fear after their pilot collapsed midflight sparking an emergency landing.

The Thomson flight was heading from Newcastle to Larnaca, Cyprus on Sunday afternoon when one of the pilots became severely ill.

The plane had to divert to Sofia in Bulgaria where the pilot was taken off on a stretcher.

One passenger on the Thomson Holiday Flight 1714 told how he saw the pilot “lying prostrate on the floor” inside the cockpit.

Alarmed crew were then seen rushing to collect oxygen cylinders to take to the pilot.

The dad-of-one, said: “It was terrifying. I glimpsed inside the cockpit door. There was coffee all over the floor and it looked like the guy had collapsed. He was lying prostrate on the floor. It’s not what you want to see happening at the front of the plane.”

The flight, which had taken off from Newcastle at 2.26pm, was then diverted to Sofia, where the pilot was taken to hospital.

Landing at 8.55pm local time, passengers had to disembark and spend the night in a hotel.

The Thomson passengers were then flown to their holiday destination in Cyprus from Bulgaria on Monday afternoon.

One passenger, who spent £2,100 for a family week-long break in Cyprus, said: “Money wasn’t what I was thinking about when the pilot collapsed.

“He was wheeled out of the cockpit and off the plane after our emergency landing before being placed on a stretcher and taken off to hospital.”

Passenger Hannah Foxcroft tweeted Thomson and said: “Hope your pilot is ok from the TOM1714 flight to LCA as he’s ill! Guess we’ve now got 2 destinations for the price of 1!”

After becoming stranded in Sofia for the night, she added: “Gutted to be honest, day wasted”.

Fellow holidaymaker Alison Wilkinson also used social media to ask for information but said the landing was “absolutely the right thing to do”.

Thomson Airways confirmed that their passengers arrived at their destination on Monday and are now able to enjoy their holiday.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to thank all of our customers for their patience and we can confirm that they are now enjoying their holidays.

“The welfare of all customers and crew travelling with us is our priority at all times.”