Co-pilot of Portugal-bound flight faints mid-air, prompting a rare red alert on plane carrying 193 passengers

In a rare incident, a co-pilot of a Portugal-bound flight fainted mid-air on an EasyJet plane. The incident happened on July 27, when the flight was on way from London to Portugal.

The co-pilot was attended to by paramedics upon landing, according to reports. Later, the pilot was taken to Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital for treatment.

As soon as the medical incident occurred mid-air, a red alert was issued for the flight, which is a very rare safety alarm on the flight. A red alert incidentally calls for a mandatory halt of operations as a safety measure on a plane. Those embarking on the return journey to Luton were subsequently delayed by around three hours following the incident

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Also Read |Pakistani content creator embraces South Indian look: Viral video

All 193 passengers on the plane landed safely and in line with the procedures, as reported by The Independent.

An easyJet spokesperson told The Independent, "easyJet can confirm that the flight EZY2459 from Luton to Lisbon was met by the paramedics upon landing due to a pilot member feeling unwell. The Captain landed the flight routinely in line with procedures, and passengers disembarked normally. At no point was the safety of the flight compromised. The safety and welfare of passengers and crew is EasyJet's highest priority."

Also Read |Korean Air to stop serving hot cup noodles in some of its flights. Here is why

In a similar incident, when a pilot of a small aeroplane flying from Westchester, New York, suffered a medical emergency, a Connecticut woman onboard took control of the aircraft and attempted to land it safely. During the commotion, the plane crashed near the runway at Martha's Vineyard Airport in West Tisbury, Massachusetts.

The accident caused the left wing of the 2006 Piper Meridian to break into half, resulting in a terrifying experience for the passengers.

Emergency personnel arrived on the site and took charge of the situation promptly. The staff provided medical help to other passengers and the 79-year-old pilot was evacuated to a Boston hospital in critical condition. In contrast, the passenger was unharmed and underwent evaluation at Martha's Vineyard Hospital before being released.

(With inputs from agencies)