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Qatar Airways flight diverted after pilot dies onboard
We've heard of medical emergencies happening in-flight, but this brings "is there a doctor on board?" to a whole new level. USA Today is reporting that a Qatar Airways pilot died this morning on flight 645 from Manila to Doha, the Qatar Airways hub. The flight was diverted to Malaysia, where a new crew was secured. The flight arrived in Doha just over four hours after its scheduled arrival.
The pilot's speculated cause of death was a heart attack, but the airline has yet to confirm the cause of death or if the flight was ever at risk.
The last reported case of a pilot dying in flight happened on a Continental flight from Brussels to Newark in June of 2009.
What a terrifying ordeal. Our thoughts go out to the pilot's family.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
mike Oct 13th 2010 3:18PM
Paul, You are a real ASS. They pass a rigorous phisical every year or they don't fly.
My condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.
journey7 Oct 13th 2010 7:12PM
Better get used to this kind of news. Our "pool" of airline pilots is getting steadily older as the airlines make this career choice less and less appealing with cuts in pay and benefits, long hours, etc. It's not the glamourous profession it once was, and it's no longer attracting high-quality candidates from which to develop the highly competant flight crew we all HOPE are in the cockpit when we fly. There are health check requirements, but risks are nevertheless increasing as the percentage of older pilots increases.
bobsomm Oct 13th 2010 6:03PM
Hey Journey7, I have to disagree with your conclusions. There is a long line of quallified folks waiting to get into the right seat and eventually the left.
Most of the new folks are brighter and certainly more physically fit, on average, and should have no problem exceeding the capabilities of the older folks looking to retire.
Yes our current pool of active air oriented bus drivers are getting old. Getting old is good considering the alternative. We are fine. Relax folks and everyone have a wonderful day.
Peace, VR Bob
Barbara Lynn Oct 13th 2010 4:23PM
Know what I love about Americans? We all think alike on what really matters!
One pilot on the flight-deck is insane. But are American corporations just greedy enough to authorize it? Yep! Let's up enough of us raise enough hell to stop!
RAMSHA Oct 13th 2010 4:23PM
This shows that a rigorous annual check up is no guarantee that we would not die from an acute heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism or one of the many rarer ailments. Sooner or later death has to occur.
Patrice Oct 21st 2010 9:05AM
This has been going on for years. Been in Aviation 40 plus.My father a pilot flew in the late 60's for a company called American Flyer's flew Lockeed Electria.
The owner and operator had a history of heart problems was paying off the FAA doctor this was a goverment charter. They were based in Ardmore,OK. My father was his instuctor this man would fly enought to remain current. They were bring goverment trooper back to the states. PIC miss appoch had heart attach on landing in to mountains .Killed 99 trooper and all flight crew & Flight Attendants. This was a goverment charter. Goverment coverd FAA report that doctor was being paid off left country never found to go to court. Between Faa & it being a goverment charter it was all covered up, all the events. Forty years later it's still goes on in the Airlines US carriers and corparate jets. God Bless the Family's!
sdk Oct 13th 2010 4:51PM
Patrice you are a dumbass
Steve Lennon Oct 13th 2010 5:08PM
Your lack of spelling, usuage, and detail, gives very little credibility to any comments that you have. Reread all comments which will add validity to your posts.
Steve
Nikki Oct 13th 2010 4:58PM
I think all aircrafts should be have trained personnel[s] in CPR along with debrillators. It's a scary thought in be in transit for over 8 to 10 hours with no access to medical attention or emergencies if something goes wrong. I was on this flight to Greece and this women had a heart attack. Thank god there was a medic who knew what to do and, literally, saved her life. She wasn't an old women either and the stewardess kept telling her she was having a panic attack when the women was complaining about chest pains. This went on for an hour until the women passed out.
Malaycobra Oct 14th 2010 9:00AM
Good lord. I hope English isn't your first language...
guy Oct 13th 2010 5:08PM
I've been flying for 30 years and can verify that the FAA takes medical certification very seriously. I don't know about Qatar. Still, nobody knows when they'll die until it happens. What we do know about this occurence is that a person died doing what he/she wanted-a dream come true for most pilots and, that the system works. Second in command is no less (and sometimes more) of a pilot in the left seat. See ya' in the big hangar captain!
Bill Hilser Oct 13th 2010 5:08PM
Why didn't someone just turn the automatic pilot on? -- Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba
Rhonda Oct 13th 2010 5:33PM
Qatar Airways is by far the best airline I have ever flown, and have done it many times particularly on the long non-stop between Washington/Dulles and Doha. They seem to take everything very seriously, from the food to the plane safety/quality to the staffing. I'm sure this was just an unfortunate incident of the human condition and am just grateful no one else suffered as a result. Thoughts and prayers to the family of the pilot.
jbjg24m Oct 13th 2010 9:39PM
now i know that i'm not getting on a damn airplane
George Knebel Oct 13th 2010 9:39PM
in 1980 a Braniff Captain died of an apparent heart attack while his 747 was enroute from Honolulu to DFW. There was an FAA inspector on board and in the cockpit. He was qualified on the 747 and took the right seat after the first officer moved to the left seat. The flight continued to DFW and landed without incident.
A side note; his wife was a flight attendant on the trip.
CAV44 Oct 13th 2010 9:39PM
Jimmy......get a grip! Everybody makes this mistake from time to time, nobody cares.There, their, they're.......It's going to be ok.
Roger Oct 13th 2010 9:38PM
He was closer to heaven and already frying with the angels, all the best to the family and friends.
Jumbo Oct 13th 2010 9:38PM
I once heard an American Air Line Pilot say that planes were becoming so computerized that before long all that would be in the Cock Pit would be one pilot and a Dog. The Dog would be there in the event the Pilot touched anything about the Flight Controls. At that point the Dog would bite the Pilot. I had a friend that took a job as a Corp. Pilot for a Company. They sent him to Denver for Six Weeks to learn about a Computer System onboarf the Air Craft. He said that all one had to do with the Air Craft was light the Engines, program the Computer and the Air Craft did the rest. Even taking off and landing. So you see the Dog might not be to far off in the Future..
Taric Oct 13th 2010 9:38PM
Ever heard of "AutoPilot"? Planes can fly and land themselves these days which is why airlines are pushing for the one pilot. Not saying that is a good thing as instruments can malfunction and the pilots actually have to do some work but rarely do they do anything up there anyway.
CAROL Oct 13th 2010 9:32PM
ITS A SCAREY THING IF YOUR PILOT DIES IN FLIGHT....BUT THERES THE CO-PILOT RIGHT THERE BESIDE HIM IN THE CABIN...ISN'T IT HIS JOB TO TAKE OVER FOR THE PILOT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS??? HE HAS HAD FLYING LESSONS TOO ....SO I'M THINKING HE SHOULD BE QUALIFIED TO FLY & LAND THE PLANE AS WELL AS THE PILOT