ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A United Airlines flight carrying nearly 200 people from Houston to San Francisco had to divert to Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the co-pilot passed out Tuesda
Air-traffic controllers got word shortly after 8 a.m. that the plane would be landing after the first officer, who is second in command, had a medical episode, Albuquerque airport spokesman Dan Jiron said. The plane landed without incident around 8:20 a.m.
The co-pilot regained consciousness and was able to walk off the plane to be transported to a local hospital, Jiron said. He had no details about the co-pilot’s condition or what may have caused the episode.
An airline spokeswoman said 177 passengers and 10 crew members were aboard the plane. United did not release any details about the co-pilot.
The diversion comes a day after an American Airlines captain became gravely ill while flying from Phoenix to Boston. He later died.
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The increased automation of travel (airplanes and now freight carrying trucks) will soon be an excuse for aircraft to only have one pilot and for truckers to be replaced with less skilled ‘handlers’ or made to work 16 hour shifts (or both). These kind of incidents should be a warning to regulators.
If it happens it will last until the first time the bus driver has a medical issue. A 767 is about 200 million. Then there is the compensation that has to be paid to the families of the passengers and anyone injured or damaged on the ground. I’d be surprised if the costs of the incident stayed under $500,000,000. You can pay a lot of co-pilot salaries with $500M, and not have to buy back a bunch of good will.
I don’t expect to see the FAA allowing one-person cockpits in my lifetime.
Ah hell — Ya think it’s a little stressful up front ? ? — Try taking a ride towards the back of the damn plane sometime —