The 57-year-old reported feeling unwell before fainting on a return flight to Romania from the Netherlands
Credit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- The co-pilot of an airplane traveling back to Romania from the Netherlands fainted midair, according to a report from Romania’s Civil Aviation Safety Investigation and Analysis Authority
- The 57-year-old said that he didn’t get any sleep the night before due to noise and the use of mosquito repellent
- The pilot also said he felt unwell on the initial flight out of Romania, but that journey continued without incident
The co-pilot of a passenger jet traveling from the Netherlands to Romania fainted in the cockpit after a lack of sleep due to noise and the use of mosquito repellent the night before.
The incident occurred on a Tarom Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport on Aug. 4, 2021, but the incident report was only published by Romania's Civil Aviation Safety Investigation and Analysis Authority (AIAS) in March.
According to the report, the co-pilot, 57, had a "lack of rest" caused by noise and mosquito repellent used where he was sleeping the night before.
Credit: David James / Alamy Stock Photo
The report added that the aircraft took off at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time in March. About 50 minutes into the flight, the co-pilot reported feeling discomfort, but the journey continued as normal without incident.
Prior to this, the pilot-in-command of the flight had asked the co-pilot about his condition while they were at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, per the report. The co-pilot said he could continue with his duties but asked that the other pilot take the helm of the aircraft for safety reasons, per the report.
Just under an hour into the journey to Romania, the co-pilot felt unwell. During the final approach to land, his condition worsened and the pilot-in-command declared an emergency. He also requested medical assistance to be available upon landing.
The passengers on board left the aircraft through the rear access door and medics administered first aid on the runway, the report stated.
The authorities later discovered that the co-pilot had fainted, with the report stating that he said he didn't get any sleep the night before the flight due to noise and the use of mosquito repellent.
Per Romanian newspaper Adevarul, Tarom Airlines decided that the two pilots would no longer be scheduled together as a result of the incident. For future journeys, the co-pilot will only fly with an additional pilot, instructor, or an experienced commander.
PEOPLE has reached out to Tarom Airlines for further updates on the incident.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The incident is not the first time a pilot has fainted while in the air. In 2024, a Lufthansa airplane traveling from Frankfurt, Germany to Seville in Spain flew for 10 minutes with no pilot. After the pilot got up to use the bathroom, the co-pilot fainted.
The aircraft ultimately reached the ground safely and the co-pilot was taken to the hospital after landing.
Read the full article here
