Pilot becomes ‘incapacitated’ on flight from Pearson Airport in Mississauga

An off-duty pilot on board an Air Canada flight from Pearson Airport in Mississauga to St. John’s, Newfoundland helped land the plane safely after one of the on-duty pilots became “incapacitated” during the June 7 trip.

According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) and aviation organization Simple Flying, the first officer, or co-pilot, on board Flight AC692 became ill at some point after the plane departed Pearson.

Fortunately, a “deadheading pilot,” meaning one who was on board the  flight as a passenger in order to get to the correct location for their next work shift, was on the Airbus A220-300 that was carrying 125 passengers and six crew.

After the first officer became “incapacitated” 77 minutes into the 2,115-kilometre flight, the off-duty pilot was called into duty and helped the other pilot land safely at St. John’s International Airport some 90 minutes later.

Specific details about the ill pilot’s condition have not been released.

Emergency crews were at the ready on the tarmac at the St. John’s airport, but they weren’t needed as the flight touched down safely.

Map shows route of the Air Canada flight from Pearson Airport to St. John’s, Newfoundland. (Image: Flightradar24.com)