What happened
On 27 April 1998, a Boeing 757-236, registration G-BIKL, was operating a scheduled public transport flight from Aberdeen to London Heathrow. While the aircraft was at cruise altitude, the commander informed the first officer that he was experiencing chest pains and feeling unwell. At the time, the first officer was seated in the left-hand position as part of his command training.
To prevent an anticipated 20-minute delay and to reach the airport as quickly as possible, the crew elected to declare a medical emergency. The aircraft proceeded to London Heathrow, where the crew performed an ILS approach and an automated landing without further incident. Following the touchdown, the commander was transported to a hospital, where he received successful treatment for angina.
The investigation
The investigation examined the medical circumstances of the commander and the flight's operational response. It was noted that the commander remained conscious and able to perform his duties as the handling pilot during the approach and landing, following all standard operating procedures.
Records showed that the commander had undergone a medical examination, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), on 1 April 1998, which had resulted in the issuance of a Class One certificate. The investigation also considered the nature of the medical condition, noting that while angina pectoris is caused by narrowed coronary arteries, a resting ECG does not always detect the condition before symptoms manifest.