Pilot From Another Airline Onboard Plane Comes To The Rescue After Captain Fainted Mid-Flight

Mar 31, 2023

Despite airplanes being one of the safest modes of transportation, one cannot help but feel scared about the many possible mishaps that could happen while flying in the air. But the moment you step on the plane, those worries should be left behind, all trust put into the pilot, and passengers should just keep the faith. While it can admittedly be scary, the best thing a person can do is follow all the safety instructions and believe that he/she will get to his/her destination. But what if the pilot – the very person you entrusted your life to – falls ill? Although it seems like an unimaginable scenario, the exact thing happened in March 2023. But as if he was heaven-sent, a pilot from another airline saved the day.

The Southwest Airlines flight, which was bound for Columbus, Ohio, when the captain reportedly became "incapacitated" and required medical attention after it took off. So, the flight was forced to turn back to Las Vegas.

Website LiveATC, in a radio traffic archive, said the captain first started feeling pain in his stomach. Five minutes later, the captain "fainted or became incapacitated."

The captain came back 60 seconds later but was brought to the back of the plane, where he was looked at.

Thankfully, a pilot from another airline was also on board the same flight. He was allowed to enter the flight deck and helped out with radio communication while the second pilot of the Southwest flight flew the aircraft.

"A credentialed pilot from another airline, who was on board, entered the flight deck and assisted with radio communication while our Southwest pilot flew the aircraft. We greatly appreciate their support and assistance," a spokesperson of the airline said, as quoted by CBS News, thanking the pilot for stepping in.

Passengers on the said flight had no clue what was going on – including the fact that the captain had fallen ill.

Diane McGlinchey, one of the passengers onboard Southwest flight 6013, said the crew members asked via the plane's public announcement system if there were any medical personnel on the flight. But McGlinchey, a Las Vegas resident who was with her husband at that time, said she didn't feel like they were any emergencies because they didn't hear anyone – including the flight attendants – panic.

"(The crew) calmly just would give us an update saying we're going to go back to Las Vegas, we have a medical emergency on board," McGlinchey told NBC News.

McGlinchey said it wasn't until they landed back in Las Vegas that they found out that it was the pilot who had the medical emergency.

While she believes that the second officer would have safely landed them either way, McGlincheys said she still felt very thankful for knowing the other pilot – who was also in his uniform – was there to join him in the cockpit.

"I'm positive that the first officer would have been able to land smoothly, but it definitely made it, I'm sure, easier for him to have someone there to do the radio part while he was landing the plane. So it went very smoothly," McGlinchey said.

The airline thanked the crew for remaining calm and maintaining professionalism throughout the flight.

"We commend the crew for their professionalism and appreciate our customers' patience and understanding regarding the situation," the airline said.

Meanwhile, an alternate crew took over the plane on the flight to Columbus.

What can you say about the pilot who extended a helping hand to the second pilot? What would you have felt if you were on the same flight? Let us know what you think, and pass this on to other people who might find this story interesting!