Pilot incapacitated while flying plane after losing breath and vision
A pilot was forced to abandon his control of a plane after becoming so ill mid-flight he deemed himself incapacitated.
Crew on Cathay Pacific flight CX170 flying from Perth to Hong Kong asked passengers with medical expertise for assistance with the pilot’s health, as his co-pilot took over controls, Fox News reported.
Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) are looking into the incident, which occurred with 270 passengers and 13 crew on board in February.
With just an hour left of the flight, the pilot told crew he was feeling short of breath and his vision had become impaired, prompting them to make a “PAN-PAN” call to Hong Kong air traffic control.
A preliminary report revealed a medical professional identified on board the flight provided assistance to the pilot at an altitude of 11,580 metres.
Advice was also provided remotely by a company doctor using a communication system on the plane, while the co-pilot lowered its altitude to assist the captain’s breathing.
By 7am Hong Kong time the plane landed without incident.
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