A flight carrying almost 200 passengers was met by emergency services after the copilot reportedly fainted in midair
An easyJet flight was met by paramedics after a pilot felt unwell during the flight.
The Airbus A320 from London Luton to Lisbon landed safely with 193 people on board.
The incident underscores the importance of having two pilots.
An easyJet plane was met by paramedics after a pilot was taken unwell during the flight, an airline spokesperson confirmed.
The Airbus A320 was traveling from London Luton Airport to Lisbon on Saturday.
CNN Portugal reported that the copilot fainted before the plane landed safely. The report added that the copilot was stabilized and then taken to the hospital.
There were 193 people on board, according to the report.
“easyJet can confirm that the flight EZY2459 from Luton to Lisbon was met by the paramedics upon landing due to a pilot member feeling unwell,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement shared with Business Insider.
“The captain landed the flight routinely in line with procedures and passengers disembarked normally,” they added. “At no point was the safety of the flight compromised.”
“The safety and welfare of passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.”
Saturday’s incident highlights the benefits of having two pilots at a time when the idea of single-pilot operations is being much discussed and faces strong criticism from pilots over safety concerns.
Numerous pilot unions have joined forces as part of the “Safety Starts With Two” coalition, which says, “Two pilots at the controls remains the most important safety features of an aircraft.”
Last year, a Southwest pilot who fell ill was replaced by a pilot from another airline who happened to be a passenger. And last December, an Air Transat pilot suffered an “uncontrollable nosebleed” and was replaced by an off-duty captain.
Read the original article on Business Insider
#flight #carrying #passengers #met #emergency #services #copilot #reportedly #fainted #midair