What happened
On November 1, 2013, a Boeing 747-400 was operating a scheduled flight from Mumbai, India, to Frankfurt, Germany, carrying 249 passengers and 16 crew members. Approximately three and a half hours into the flight, the Senior First Officer reported feeling unwell and subsequently vomited.
Following an announcement over the aircraft's public address system, a medical professional on board provided assistance, including administering an intravenous infusion and monitoring the officer's vital signs. While the medical professional reported an improvement in the officer's condition a few hours later, the Senior First Officer remained unable to stand by the time the aircraft approached its destination.
To ensure the safety of the flight, the captain continued the descent toward Frankfurt. For the approach and landing phase, the purser took the position of the Senior First Officer in the cockpit to assist the captain. The aircraft landed safely on runway 25L at Frankfurt Airport without further incident, and the medical services met the aircraft on the ground to care for the crew member.
The investigation
The BFU examined the flight operations and the medical event involving the crew. The investigation confirmed that the captain and the co-pilot were both fully qualified, holding valid licenses, medical certificates, and the necessary type ratings for the Boeing 747-400. The investigation also verified that all navigational aids, including the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for runway 25L, were fully operational and available for the approach.