Synopsis
On 17 November 2012, at approximately 00:43 local time (UTC+4), an Airbus A320-232 registered as A6-EII, operated by Etihad Airways on flight ETD308 from Kuwait International Airport, was approaching Abu Dhabi International Airport. The aircraft carried 76 persons: two flight crewmembers (captain and co-pilot), four cabin crew, and 70 passengers. The captain was the pilot flying (PF) and the co-pilot was the pilot monitoring (PM).
History of the Flight
At 00:42:24, while maintaining 2,400 feet altitude approximately 9.5 nautical miles southeast of the airport, the captain spoke to the co-pilot with an unusual voice pattern compared to earlier flight deck conversation, as recorded on the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Between 00:42:52 and 00:43:23, the captain attempted to verbalize unsuccessfully, exhibited difficulty breathing normally, and produced incoherent verbal communication.
At 00:43:40, Abu Dhabi Approach Control instructed the flight to turn left heading 040 and continue descending to the base leg for Runway 31L after waypoint ASKIN. The crew read back the instruction correctly. At 00:43:46, the captain was further heard engaging in incoherent verbal communication.
At 00:44:11, the controller requested confirmation of the heading turn. The co-pilot replied, indicating the captain was incapacitated. The co-pilot declared an emergency and assumed control, remaining as pilot flying for the remainder of the flight. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 31L.
After landing, the aircraft stopped on the active runway because the co-pilot was unable to taxi from the right seat per the operator's policy. Emergency services arrived; medical staff boarded the flight deck to assess the captain. The captain had regained consciousness to a limited extent and was communicative and responsive.
The aircraft was towed to the passenger terminal. The captain disembarked first, followed by the passengers and remaining crew. The captain was later transported to a hospital for further medical checks and observation.
The GCAA removed the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder for analysis at the GCAA Flight Recorder Laboratory.
Injuries and Damage
None of the 70 passengers or the 6 crewmembers were injured. No damage to the aircraft was reported.
Investigative Actions
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates initiated the investigation on the same day. In accordance with Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention, France (as the State of Design and Manufacturer) was notified, and the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) assigned an Accredited Representative. The investigation was ongoing at the time of this preliminary report.