Mid-Air Drama As Co-Pilot Falls Ill [Air Canada Pilot Suffers Nervous Breakdown On Flight...]

Sky News ^

[Sub-Driver]

Mid-Air Drama As Co-Pilot Falls Ill

Updated:14:22, Wednesday January 30, 2008 A Heathrow-bound trans-Atlantic flight has had to make an emergency landing in Ireland after the co-pilot suffered a suspected mid-air nervous breakdown. Air Canada jet diverted to Shannon

The Air Canada Boeing 767 from Toronto, with 180 passengers on board, had to be diverted to Shannon after the co-pilot became ill in the cockpit.

Passengers reportedly watched as the man had to be dragged screaming from the cockpit. He was then pinned down by crew members during a struggle in the main cabin.

The Irish Independent said that restraints were fastened to the co-pilot's wrists and legs and he was handcuffed to a seat, swearing and "yelling to God", according to shocked passengers.

The crew first became concerned when the co-pilot began acting in a peculiar way and began talking loudly to himself.

Ireland's Health Services Executive confirmed that the co-pilot was taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital in Ennis, Co Clare, for assessment - but would not comment on his condition.

[Sub-Driver]

Yikes!

[bboop]

Wait a minute. Was he saying “Allahu Akbar?”

[ChinaThreat]

Makes me think a little of the Egypt Air murder.

[ml/nj]

Air Canada confirmed that the airline has a "failsafe policy" which allows one pilot to fly the aircraft in the event that the other becomes ill or unable to continue.

I wonder what alternatives they considered.

ML/NJ

[Niteranger68]

This reminds me of Auburn Calloway. The crazy, hammer-swinging FedEx flight engineer who almost put a jet into the Memphis terminal.

[martin_fierro]

The Irish Independent said that restraints were fastened to the co-pilot's wrists and legs and he was handcuffed to a seat, swearing and "yelling to God"

[tlb]

He kept saying he saw a fuzzy gremlin walking on the wing and staring at him.

[Dumpster Baby]

[Don Corleone]

Must have heard the results from Florida!

[Niteranger68]

Actually, I think he was an FO.

[Dumpster Baby]

He kept saying he saw a fuzzy gremlin walking on the wing and staring at him.

[maine-iac7]

Air Canada confirmed that the airline has a "failsafe policy" which allows one pilot to fly the aircraft in the event that the other becomes ill or unable to continue.

Just

What a concept...

(The writer must get paid per word = totally inane paragraph)

[sticker]

I think this one:

[Crolis]

I see by your picture they were flying on instruments!

I love that movie!

[peggybac]

LOL

[ClearCase_guy]

Looks like he picked the wrong week to quit smoking.

[wrench]

I wonder if they were over Macho Grande?

[theDentist]

LOL!!!

[JRochelle]

Medically speaking, there is no such thing as a ‘nervous breakdown.’

[Turbopilot]

Yeah, it’s a good thing Air Canada has that policy. At airlines that don’t have such a policy, if one of the pilots becomes ill, the other one has to fold his arms and wait for the plane to crash.