Passenger takes control of Air Transat flight after crew member becomes 'incapacitated'

[Airband]

Clickbait journalism

Passenger takes control of Air Transat flight after crew member becomes 'incapacitated'

A company-qualified pilot happened to be on board the flight en route from Toronto Pearson to Punta Cana International Airport

Fri Dec 01, 2023 - National Post
by Lynn Chaya

A passenger aboard an Air Transat flight took control of the airplane after a crew member became “incapacitated,” according to flight monitoring website the Aviation Herald.

Flight TS-186 en route from Toronto Pearson to Punta Cana International Airport departed at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, and was due to arrive in the Dominican Republic at around 2 p.m. local time.

Nearly three hours into the flight, a member from the aircraft’s flight crew allegedly became incapacitated. One of the 299 passengers on board, who happened to be a company-qualified pilot, stepped in and replaced them.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) did not specify the precise role of the incapacitated individual.

The crew performed a descent towards their destination and ultimately landed safely in the Dominican Republic with no reported injuries.

Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred on an Air Canada flight where an off-duty pilot assumed the crew member’s duties after they became incapacitated on a flight from Toronto to Newfoundland.

According to aviation blog FlightCopilot, modern airliners are designed to generally have a minimum of two operating pilots: a commander and a co-pilot.

The incapacitation of one crew member is “an emergency and would require a diversion and landing at a suitable airport.”

When such an event occurs, the first thing to do is ensure the aircraft is flying safely.

“The remaining pilot will immediately become both pilot flying and monitoring,” the blog wrote.

In an Airbus, a red push button is pressed for about 45 seconds to disengage the incapacitated pilot’s side-stick in the event that they have collapsed and put undesired pressures on it.

At this point, the aircraft is safe to fly, and a request can be made for a crew member to come into the flight deck and attend to the incapacitated pilot.

“One crew member can stay on the jump seat to remain with the pilot and the rest can start securing the cabin for landing,” FlightCopilot explained.

Though the event is rare, following Standard Operating Procedures is vital to ensure the safety of all those on board.

[Kip Powick]

With a "Completely Incapacitated Pilot" episode does the computerized aircraft automatically update the weight and balance and "subtract one" from number of souls on board  and "add 100 kg" to the Cargo Manifest ?

Just wondering.....

[conehead]

25 minutes ago, Kip Powick said:

With a "Completely Incapacitated Pilot" episode does the computerized aircraft automatically update the weight and balance and "subtract one" from number of souls on board  and "add 100 kg" to the Cargo Manifest ?

Just wondering.....

How much does a soul weigh?

 

[Falken]

RE: the headline, how does a"company qualified pilot" become a passenger?

[Kip Powick]

I did all the time .......(became a passenger)................when I went on vacation on an aircraft associated with the company I flew for.

Same applies to DH Crew on a company aircraft that they work for 

[Falken]

I think the "clickbait journalism" explains my question.

[conehead]

3 minutes ago, Falken said:

I think the "clickbait journalism" explains my question.

Definitely clickbait.

[Seeker]

I've read a few of these over the years - a "passenger" who took over after an incapacitation and saved the day.  Always turns out to be another pilot or someone who had flying lessons.