EasyJet Co-Pilot Faints on Lisbon-Bound Flight, Mid-Flight Emergency Alert Issued

An easyJet co-pilot was hospitalized after fainting on a flight from London to Lisbon on July 27. Upon landing, paramedics attended to him, and he was subsequently taken to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon for further treatment.

Following the medical incident, a rare red alert was issued. For clarification, a red alert involves a mandatory operational half as a safety measure on a plane. Despite the situation, the flight, which carried 193 passengers, landed safely and in accordance with standard procedures, reported The Independent.

How did easyJet respond to the incident?

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.”

In a different incident, a small plane flying from Westchester, New York, experienced a medical emergency involving its pilot. A passenger from Connecticut took control of the aircraft and attempted a landing. The plane ultimately crashed near the runway at Martha’s Vineyard Airport in West Tisbury, Massachusetts, resulting in the left wing of the 2006 Piper Meridian breaking in half. Emergency responders quickly arrived, evacuating the 79-year-old pilot to a Boston hospital in critical condition. The passenger, unhurt, was evaluated at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital before being released.