Additional Coverage:
- An off-duty pilot stepped in to help fly a Boeing 737 after the first officer fell ill mid-flight (newsbreak.com)
An off-duty pilot helped land a WestJet flight from Calgary to Vancouver after the first officer became ill mid-air. The off-duty pilot, who was a passenger on the flight, was able to assist the remaining crew members in operating the Boeing 737.
Pilots are trained to handle emergencies, and flights typically have multiple pilots for safety. In this case, the off-duty pilot was able to step in and assist in flying the plane to a safe landing in Vancouver.
While it’s uncommon, pilots can become ill during flights. Airlines usually declare an emergency and land the plane as soon as possible in such cases. However, in this instance, the flight crew did not declare an emergency and landed the plane safely with the assistance of the off-duty pilot.