easyJet plane makes emergency landing after pilot passes out

Emergency landing: file picture shows an easyJet plane
Barry Batchelor/PA Wire
Rachel Blundy9 October 2015

An easyJet plane travelling from Gatwick to Crete was forced to make an emergency landing today after the pilot passed out.

The pilot lost consciousness on Flight 5461 as passengers were flown to Heraklion airport, the Sun reported.

His co-pilot is said to have taken over the controls and landed the plane at Marco Polo airport near Venice.

All of the flight's passengers were said to have been offloaded from the plane safely and the pilot was taken to hospital.

His condition was described by officials as "not life-threatening".

A spokesman for easyJet said the plane made an emergency landing as a result of the Captain "requiring medical assistance".

He said: "The First Officer performed a routine landing in line with procedures.

"The aircraft landed safely and was met by emergency services on arrival.

"The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority."

He continued: “easyJet sent a replacement aircraft and crew from London Gatwick to Venice to operate the flight to Heraklion. This flight has now arrived into Heraklion.

“We apologise for any inconvenience experienced due to the diversion and resulting delay.”

The drama comes after the captain of an American Airlines plane died while flying from Phoenix to Boston.

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