I wonder how they were able to find a pilot among the passengers without causing a panic.
Posted on 03/23/2023 5:03:46 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
A pilot had a medical emergency on a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio today. The pilot was removed from the flight deck when this occurred, according to a spokesperson for the airline, and a pilot from another airline who happened to be on board “assisted with radio communication” with the other Southwest pilot commanded the aircraft.
This incident was first reported on Twitter by Charlotte-based American Airlines Airbus first officer Josh Yoder.
The aircraft initially departed on schedule, flew out over Utah north of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, before returning to the gate in Las Vegas nearly two hours later. The 18 year old ex-China Eastern 737-700 finally departed again for Columbus at 11:02 a.m. – four hours and 22 minutes after originally-scheduled departure – and arrived in Columbus at 5:01 p.m.
According to Southwest Airlines spokesperson Chris Perry, Southwest Flight 6013 from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio returned to LAS after departure on Wednesday when one of our Pilots needed medical attention. The flight landed safely, and an alternate Flight Crew is operating the flight to CMH. We commend the Crew for their professionalism and appreciate our Customers’ patience and understanding regarding the situation.
Naturally everyone’s thoughts are with the pilot who required assistance. Two pilots still make sense in the cockpit, though eventually that will change. Still, the single remaining Southwest Airlines pilot would have been capable of returning the aircraft to the ground. Having another airline pilot available to assist, though details aren’t available on whether they were type-rated for the 737, was certainly helpful and an additional stroke of luck.
My second thought of course went to a pilot falling ill in the cockpit and Ted Striker being asked to assist with the radio.
No worries. United’s new policy is to hire minorities first — women and blacks — no matter their skill level. Everything will be fine.
As long as he doesn’t have a drinking problem.
I wonder how they were able to find a pilot among the passengers without causing a panic.
Lol
“I wonder how they were able to find a pilot among the passengers without causing a panic.”
They already knew he was onboard
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I took that as a key point though. The former passenger, now pilot, may have served only as a radio operator. It's a critical function but far short of a fully qualified pilot in the second seat.
“The former passenger, now pilot, may have served only as a radio operator.”
It refers to him as an airline pilot.
Yes, but if he doesn't have the correct type-rating, he's not serving as a co-pilot. For all the similarities between aircraft, there are also critical differences.
It is called professional courtesy. The cockpit jumpseat belongs to the captain. Provided someone has legal access to the cockpit the captain can permit them to hitch a ride. The captain always has the final say.
Jumpseat access has been the focus of various labor and merger disputes over the past 50 years. Being reciprocal means that most airlines play nice with each others’ pilots.
Since many airline pilots commute to their flying assignments jumpseat access is an important privilege in the airline industry.
All co-pilots are pilots but not all pilots are co-pilots. In the airline industry we use titles to avoid the confusion. The captain sits in the left seat, the first officer sits in the right seat. Both are pilots. Both are type rated in the aircraft.
A co-pilot ALWAYS refers to the first officer. Saying “the pilot” does nothing to determine title or position.
“Yes, but if he doesn’t have the correct type-rating, he’s not serving as a co-pilot.”
The article didn’t say he was serving as a co-pilot.
The point is, he isn’t just a radio operator (as you implied) in his normal life.
Crap.
I live directly under a landing flight path of an international airport.
The planes go over at less than 500 feet.
I think I better move.
.
Same here.
Stryker flew single-engine fighters in the war. This plane has two engines. It's an entirely different kind of flying, altogether.
"Striker....Striker....Striker......STRIKER!"
"Ok!"
I know but this guy has no flying experience at all. He’s a menace to himself and everything else in the air... yes, birds too.
“... The 18 year old ex-China Eastern 737-700...”
18 year old pilot!? /s
I know it was the PLANE! Why does it matter, in an article about a pilot becoming incapacitated, how old the plane was?
AND what does China have to do with it? Did EVERYONE come down with COVID?
“I want to give an award to the author. First article in years that told you what happened in the first two paragraphs!”
Everything except the airline pilot’s medical problem. Heart attack, stroke?
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