A Lufthansa Boeing 747 was forced to make an emergency landing when its captain fainted shortly after takeoff from Miami.
Flight LH463, bound for Frankfurt, was diverted to Montreal when the pilot lost consciousness while flying over the eastern US coast, according to Aviation Herald.
The co-pilot took control of the aircraft while two flight attendants rushed to provide first aid to the captain in the crew lounge.
Facing deteriorating weather conditions and down one pilot, the crew decided to divert the plane over Nova Scotia at 30,000 feet.
The aircraft landed safely in Montreal, about 1,500 miles from its intended destination. The cause of the pilot’s collapse remains unclear, and no updates have been provided on his condition.
Read also: NAHCO signs contracts with Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc
A Lufthansa spokesperson said: “The flight landed there normally and safely, and the colleague received medical care. Lufthansa regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers. The safety of our passengers and crew members is our top priority at all times.”
Similar incidents have occurred in recent years. In 2019, a Jet2 captain fainted on a Manchester to Madeira flight, forcing an emergency landing in Porto. That same year, a student pilot had to make an emergency landing after his instructor lost consciousness during a training flight.
More recently, a Turkish Airlines pilot died mid-flight while operating an Airbus 350 between Seattle and Istanbul in 2024. The 59-year-old veteran had worked for the airline since 2007 and had passed his medical examination in March.
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