A routine international flight turned into a midair crisis when one of the pilots was suddenly unable to fly. According to the report, an Air Canada flight from Newark International to Halifax, Nova Scotia, was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston after a pilot suffered a medical emergency and became incapacitated during the trip.
The first sign of trouble was felt by everyone on board. According to the report, the plane suddenly swerved, and passengers said the pilot had suffered a seizure and was convulsing, an alarming situation that quickly drew the crew and travelers into an effort to regain control of the cabin and the cockpit.
What happened next unfolded with striking speed. According to the report, a flight attendant frantically entered the cockpit, and moments later the affected pilot was dragged out, as the crew worked to deal with the emergency while the aircraft was still in the air.
Passengers ended up playing a direct role in managing the situation. According to the report, Rodney McDonald, one of 61 people on board, said that he and about four others worked to get the pilot under control, describing a strenuous roughly 40 minutes spent keeping him down, with seatbelts used to help restrain him.
With one pilot out of action, responsibility for the flight fell to the remaining crew member. According to the report, the aircraft was then flown by the co-pilot, who took over and diverted the plane to Boston, steering the emergency toward a controlled outcome rather than a disaster.
The flight ultimately reached the ground without further harm to those on board. According to the report, the plane landed safely in Boston and the pilot was transported to a hospital for medical treatment, with video from an affiliate showing first responders removing the pilot from the aircraft after the landing.