In the last couple of days, three pilots have died on duty including an IndiGo pilot collapsing right before boarding his aircraft at Nagpur airport. This comes just a day after a Qatar Airways pilot suffered a heart attack onboard the flight. Another LATAM pilot succumbed on a flight from Miami to Chile.
An obvious question arises here: what happens next? Who holds the reigns of the safety of hundreds of passengers after a pilot dies or passes out?
Firstly, there are a good number of safeguards in place to handle such emergencies.
The best way to address in-flight medical emergencies is to have a qualified medical professional on board. It is important for airlines and passengers alike to prioritize the need for medical support during air travel. #inflightemergencies #aviationhealth #medicalsupport
— Med Opportunities (@Medic_Platform) April 8, 2023
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Now, moving on: What happens next?
The ideal situation involves a co-pilot performing an automatic landing, supported by ground-based navigation systems. If an autoland option is unavailable, the pilot relies on their training to manually guide the aircraft to a safe landing.
The priority remains the safety of all occupants and the aircraft.
In case both the pilot and the first officer are unresponsive, the autopilot system can be engaged to maintain flight stability while the crew assesses the situation and makes informed decisions. Occurrence of such a situation might sound highly unlikely but has taken place in the past.
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While the concept of an incapacitated pilot might spark concerns, it's important to learn that the aviation industry is made to operate with the highest level of safety protocols.