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Pilot's mental breakdown causes emergency landing

by Iva Skoch (RSS feed) on Jan 30th 2008 at 12:20PM

Early Wednesday, an Air Canada flight from Toronto to London Heathrow had to make an emergency landing in Ireland because the pilot apparently suffered a mental breakdown midair. BBC reports that he was shouting he wanted to "talk to God" when they were taking him off the plane.

After an 8-hour delay, all passengers eventually made it back to London. The pilot is now "in care". Something tells me his career as a commercial pilot is history...

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Reader Comments (Page 11 of 11)

gayle Feb 2nd 2008 4:26PM

Allen Feb 2nd 2008 4:29PM

Maybe he just wanted early retirement??? May have found a good way to get it???

gayle Feb 2nd 2008 4:30PM

Believe me If I or anyone in my Family had been on that plane I would have pasted out myself. But Anyone can snap at any time. Must have been something medical. But his career probly is over now. I would hope. But not his fault. I'm glad they had a safe landing and everyone is ok and He's going to get the help he needed.

Richard Wagner Feb 3rd 2008 10:49PM

May God bless him

Lou Feb 2nd 2008 5:18PM

When I was younger, I did not like flying - it was a control issue. Then I met a very nice pilot for NWA. He pointed out that the pilots want to get home to their families safely. That opened my eyes.

I agree with Kat - maybe he just needed to talk to God.

Why is it that when we say WE talk to God, everyone smiles because we are praying, but when we say God talks to US everyone assumes we are nuts!

Elaine Feb 2nd 2008 5:31PM

I have several friends that fly and even flying a small private plane they must undergo medical test to confirm that they are in condition to fly. I'm not sure of the mental evaluation, but I know for a fact that if a pilot has a heart condition, there are certain planes he/she isn't allowed to fly. This poor man must be under a lot of stress...personally, any one of us could experience a meltdown at anytime! I've been very close myself and if there's a time to talk to God that's certainly one of them! MY prayers are with this fellow and his family...and I thank God for the safety of the rest of the crrew as well as the passengers!

Jeri Feb 2nd 2008 5:41PM

And here I thought all pilots thought they were God.

Meghan Feb 2nd 2008 5:47PM

How could he talk to someone who doesn't exist?

B Feb 2nd 2008 6:05PM

THIS IS BULLSHIT!!!!!!!

Lon Horiuchi V Feb 2nd 2008 6:05PM

1.) MESA airlines pays $20k/yr to fly $20k aircraft.
.
2.) You PSYCHOBABBLISTS chiming in are proof that your quackery is almost entirely detrimental. You're nothing more than priests of a cult. Talk about NPD and power-drunkenness! You ain't the guru's of wisdom atop the peaks of mountains as you claim to be, or none of you would be connivers, schemers, addicts, divorcees, queers, perverts, suicides, murderers, thieves, liars, and so on, as you are. Calling something a disorder, dysfunction, syndrome, or etc, making it sound scientific so you can bill insurance, is fraud and theft.

CAROL POWERS Feb 2nd 2008 6:56PM

Hey! Why don't we give thanks to all the crew and passengers that helped this pilot.

I think this pilot will be fine, lets be positive for him.

Dawn McCardle Feb 2nd 2008 7:00PM

My cousin ( a 21 year commercial veteran) is a major airline pilot. He and all commercial pilots undergo a yearly mandatory 6 month mental and physical FAA, (Federal Regulation Testing) standarized testing. We can all feel safe to fly the friendly skies.

MsManners Feb 2nd 2008 7:03PM

I don't like to fly anyway.
A lot of planes crash because of a pilot.

George Sidoti Feb 2nd 2008 7:42PM

... And, so, did the pilot ever get around to talking to God or does he have to wait for the next flight.?

Jhovahn Feb 2nd 2008 7:55PM

It is crazy to think that a pilot could just loose it in the air like that. It definitely doesn't make you feel good knowing that you're at the mercy of someone having a nervous breakdown @ 30,000 feet.

Catman Feb 2nd 2008 7:57PM

Captains get a medical evaluation every 6 months and most often the right seat pilot every year. I trust them with my life as you should too. You are safer in the air then driving to the airport.

busickgk Feb 2nd 2008 8:12PM

I will tell you most pilots are the biggest babies around. They have to always get there way and it doesn't matter who around them it causes problems for. They intentionally delay flights to get to or stay in the cities they want to be in. They routinely start up planes without doing a safety check to see if a mechanic is working on something. Most pilots need to grow up.