While airlines around the world are insisting on being able to do without co-pilots on flights in future due to the lack of pilots, reports of medical emergencies in the cockpit are increasing. On March 11, for example, a plane from Guatemala had to be diverted because the pilot was suddenly unable to act. Yesterday, Monday, another plane had to return to Milan-Malpensa Airport due to a pilot’s medical emergency. How safe is flying?
The shortage of skilled workers also affects air traffic: the direct and indirect compulsory vaccinations by airlines as well as quarantine regulations, which were hardly compatible with any duty roster, did the rest. From an economic perspective, it is therefore not surprising that calls are being made worldwide for standards and regulations to be relaxed to allow cockpit crews with only one pilot – but very much so from the perspective of flight safety.
Anyone looking for reports on medical emergencies in air traffic will find what they are looking for almost every day. We just reported on the tragic death of a pilot who died of a heart attack just before his next flight.
On March 11, a United Airlines flight from Guatemala to Houston had to be diverted because of a medical issue, an airline spokesman admitted. According to a document that was leaked to a medium, this affected the pilot: He suffered from chest pains and could not be moved from the seat; the co-pilot eventually had to land. After landing, the pilot was taken to the hospital. In the meantime, the airline had a direct vaccination requirement.
On March 13, Emirates Flight 205 was flying from Milan Malpensa Airport bound for the United States when the pilot suddenly suffered from unspecified health problems. The symptoms were so severe that a decision was made to turn back. After an hour and a half, they landed back at the departure airport, where the pilot received medical care.
In both cases, a co-pilot was on hand to step in and bring the crew and passengers safely back to the ground. But what happens if flights with only one pilot are actually allowed in the future? The doubts about flight safety after the Covid mass vaccinations are growing steadily – but the official side is still studiously ignoring this problem.