“The moment the plane swerved, I knew something was wrong,” one passenger recalled about the frightening ordeal. Passengers traveling on an Air Canada flight were forced to assist in restraining a pilot for approximately 40 minutes after he suffered a medical emergency, which witnesses described as appearing to be a seizure, following a sudden mid-flight swerve.
Air Canada confirmed that Flight AC7664, operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, was traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday when the captain fell ill. The first officer immediately assumed control of the aircraft and initiated a diversion to Boston, where the plane landed safely. According to the airline, the captain was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.
The aircraft, a De Havilland Q400, was carrying 61 passengers at the time. Air Canada stated that they are currently working to organize alternative travel arrangements for all those affected by the diversion. Rodney McDonald, who was on board with his wife and two sons, described the moment the situation became clear. He noted that the plane lurched unexpectedly, and it was immediately obvious that the movement was not caused by standard turbulence.
McDonald recounted that a flight attendant rushed into the cockpit and subsequently pulled one of the pilots out into the aisle. He explained that the pilot appeared to be having a seizure, leading him and about four other passengers to step in and restrain the individual while the co-pilot successfully navigated the plane to Boston. Although the CDC advises against holding down individuals experiencing seizures to avoid injury, the passengers described the pilot as being out of control of his faculties.
“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. He noted that a registered nurse on the flight helped direct the efforts and assist the pilot throughout the medical crisis. McDonald also praised the flight crew, remarking that the flight attendants remained calm and professional throughout the entire event. Emergency responders were waiting for the aircraft upon its safe arrival in Boston, and passengers expressed relief that everyone exited the plane safely.
