Passengers terrified after they see pilot collapsed 'on the floor' during flight
Passengers on board a UK flight were left terrified after their pilot collapsed in the cockpit 30,000 feet (9km) above ground.
Panic and fear spread throughout the plane after airline staff were seen rushing to collect oxygen cylinders for the pilot after he collapsed just 16 minutes into Thomson Holiday flight 1714.
One passenger described the incident as "terrifying" and said they saw the pilot "lying prostrate on the floor".
"I glimpsed inside the cockpit door. There was coffee all over the floor and it looked like the guy had collapsed," the passenger told The Sun.
The plane was travelling from Newcastle in the UK to Larnaca, Cyprus on the weekend but was quickly diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria for an emergency landing.
“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," one passenger said.
Shaken passengers were put up in a hotel before their next scheduled service from Bulgaria to Cyprus the following day.
Some passengers complained about the alleged lack of information provided by the airline on the situation.
“What the hell is going on, diverted to Sofia, trying to get home to Larnaca! 24 hour helpline ho help, no flight info," Samantha Eaton tweeted.
“Stuck @ Sofia airport after plane diverted from Newcastle ... anyone know whats happening,” Alison Wilkinson tweeted.
“Any news, we have been standing outside Sofia airport for 30 minutes waiting for buses/taxes in 8 degrees.”
Thomson Airways told The Sun the welfare of everyone on the plane at the time was their priority.
"We can confirm that as a result of one of our pilots feeling unwell, the decision was taken to divert the Newcastle to Larnaca, Cyprus flight last night," a spokesperson said.
“A priority landing was requested at Sofia, Bulgaria which was the closest airport and the pilot was taken to a nearby hospital to be assessed."
