EasyJet First Officer Faints During Flight to Lisbon, Underscoring Need for Two-Pilot Minimum Rule
Passengers don’t usually expect a pilot to fall ill during a flight, but the rare occurrence underscores the importance of the two-pilot minimum rule in ensuring flight safety.
On Saturday June 27, an easyJet A320 first officer fainted during a flight from London to Lisbon carrying nearly 200 passengers. An airline spokesperson told Business Insider that paramedics met the plane upon landing due to a pilot feeling unwell. “The captain landed the flight routinely in line with procedures, and passengers disembarked normally,” they said. “At no point was the safety of the flight compromised.”
Importance of Two-Pilot Minimum Rule
The incident highlights the critical role of having an additional pilot on board. Mark Stephens, a retired Delta pilot, recently emphasized to Business Insider that domestic or short-haul flights should have at least two pilots, while international or long-haul flights should have two pilots and two captains.
The two-pilot rule ensures that if one pilot becomes incapacitated, the other can safely land the plane. This is particularly crucial during medical emergencies in midair, including sudden illnesses such as heart attacks or even death. In such cases, the remaining pilot focuses on diverting or landing the plane safely while the rest of the crew attends to the unwell pilot.
Previous Incidents and Industry Response
In March 2023, a Southwest Airlines pilot experienced stomach pains and became “incapacitated” during a flight from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio. A pilot from another airline, who was on board as a passenger, stepped in to help the remaining Southwest pilot land the plane.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) rejected an industry push in February 2023 to allow planes to be operated by one pilot by 2030. Andrea Boiardi, chief expert of operational suitability at the regulator, told Reuters that the idea of a single-pilot flight was “absolutely not realistic.”
While single-pilot flights can occur, they are rare and require approval from the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization, individual airlines, and their pilot unions.
The recent incident involving the easyJet first officer serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a two-pilot minimum rule for flight safety. As the aviation industry continues to prioritize passenger safety, the presence of multiple pilots on board remains a crucial component in handling unexpected medical emergencies.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com, businessinsider.com