Passengers restrain pilot during apparent medical emergency on 'terrifying' flight

 

Passengers restrain pilot during apparent medical emergency on 'terrifying' flight

Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight helped restrain a pilot who experienced a medical emergency that they say appeared to be a seizure for about 40 minutes after the aircraft suddenly swerved midflight, according to a passenger who spoke exclusively with ABC News.

Air Canada said Flight AC7664, operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday when the captain experienced the medical emergency, the airline said.

The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted the flight to Boston, where it landed safely. The captain was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, according to the airline.

The De Havilland Q400 was carrying 61 passengers. Air Canada said it is working to arrange alternate travel for those on board."Yeah, it was really horrifying. I was sitting in the front row, my family was from their back, just the way the seat arrangement worked out," he explained. "And I went back to sit with them and then realized that the pilot was out of control physically, not violently, like it was clear that he was not in control of his faculties and needed to be restrained."

He continued, "[We] worked to get him under control, it was a fairly strenuous 40 minutes of keeping him down and using as many seatbelts as we could to restrain his legs arms and chest."

McDonald said a registered nurse on board helped direct passengers and assist the pilot during the medical emergency, while he praised the flight attendants for remaining calm throughout the ordeal.