What happened
On 17 November 2012, an Etihad Airways Airbus A320-232, registration A6-EII, was conducting a passenger flight from Kuwait International Airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 76 people, including 70 passengers and 6 crew members.
While the aircraft was approximately 9.5 nautical miles southeast of the airport, the captain, acting as the pilot flying, began exhibiting an unusual voice pattern. Shortly thereafter, the captain struggled to breathe and was unable to communicate coherently. The co-pilot, serving as the pilot monitoring, realized the captain had become unresponsive and declared a MAYDAY to air traffic controllers.
To manage the emergency, the co-pilot assumed control of the aircraft. During the descent, a cabin crew member assisted by providing oxygen and securing the captain in his seat. The co-post requested a long final approach to runway 31L to ensure a stabilized landing. The aircraft landed safely without any injuries to the passengers or crew, though the aircraft remained on the active runway after landing because the co-pilot could not taxi from the right-hand seat according to company policy.
The investigation
The GCAA AAIS investigation examined cockpit voice and flight data recordings to reconstruct the sequence of events. Investigators reviewed the crew's adherence to the operator's safety and emergency manuals, specifically focusing on the protocols for pilot incapacitation. The investigation also looked into the medical status of the captain and the effectiveness of the crew' coordination during the emergency.
Findings
- The captain became incapacitated during the approach phase of the flight.
- The co-pilot effectively transitioned to the pilot flying role and declared a distress situation.
- The crew followed the operator's established procedures for managing an incapacitated flight crew member, including the use of the NITS briefing and securing the captain.
- There were no injuries to any of the 76 persons on board and no damage to the aircraft.